Top 10 Reasons to Use Travel Planners // Vacations & Honeymoons

At Travel Planners, we are your "window to the world", offering consulting and personalized travel planning so you can make the best buying decision for your vacation.

We pride ourselves on excellent customer service. Here are just a few of the reasons why Travel Planners should be your go to for your next getaway:

10. Passion. We love to plan your vacation as much as we love to plan our own.

9. Reliability. Travel Planners has planned vacations for over 15 years and our travel consultants have a combined 75 year experience. You can trust our reliability, stability, and integrity. We are members of your community.

8. Available. We are available during the day, weekends, and evenings. We see you when it is convenient for you.

7. Communication. You can actually talk to a person instead of your computer. No disconnections, no searching for questions you don't even know to ask, and we live here in town!

6. Service. We provide service from the planning stages through your return, not just at the point of sale. If you have flight cancellations, hurricanes, illness, or dissatisfaction while on your trip, we help solve your problems. 

5. Time. You save hours of searching the Internet for special deals that take us only a short period of time to find. 

4. Destination Specialists. Our travel consultants are certified destination specialists who have been to the places where you are interested in going.

3. Free Consultation. We don't charge for most of our services. We are paid by the tour companies or cruise lines to arrange your travel. 

2. Budget. We can find special vacations to fit every budget.

1. Experience. Our travel consultants arrange travel as a profession. We know through experience where to go, what to do, where to eat, best time of year to travel and much more!!

Do not hesitate to call, even if it is just for questions. We would love to help you! 

Call us for your NEXT vacation!!

Travel Planners, Inc.

205-870-3031

www.travelpi.com

Sandals Resorts // Over-the-Water Suites

Sandals Resorts are known as one of the most romantic destinations for couples. The resorts are adults only with the slogan "a paradise created for two people on love". And that is so very true. Couples visiting Sandals Resorts will experience an all inclusive luxury vacation with more quality inclusions than any other luxury beach resort. With gorgeous white - and sometimes pink - sand beaches, mouth-watering dining experiences, unlimited beverages, exciting water sports, and SO much more, it is no wonder why so many couples choose Sandals!

Sandals Resorts are constantly growing and enhancing their accommodations. In the second half of 2015, Sandals Resorts is debuting five over-the-water suites on the private island at Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island in Montego Bay. Each 1,400-square-foot villa will feature a glass floor, a soaking tub, a king-size bed, 65-inch flat screen TVs in both the living room and the bedroom areas, indoor and outdoor showers, outdoor dining space and a built-in hammock over the water.

Excuse me while I go ahead and book this!!

A little bit of trivia - these will be the only over-the-water bungalows other than in the South Pacific!

Call your local travel agent to get more information!

Travel Planners Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama would be thrilled to help! They are the leading Sandals Resort sellers in Alabama. Call them at 205-870-3031! 

Holiday Travel // 2014

It is that time of year again. The wind is blowing and the chill in the air makes you want to cozy up to a fire and sip hot chocolate. The holidays are fast approaching, but it is not too late to plan an exciting adventure.

 

I have compiled a list of five places to visit this holiday season.

 

Amsterdam

The legend of Santa Claus is strong in Amsterdam and the houses are strung with lights at the very beginning of December. During the colder months, Amsterdam is a great place to go ice skating! Fun activity for the kids! The Dutch really know how to make the most of the holiday season. From parades to good food and from markets to festive parties.

 

 

 

 

 

Finland

What is in Finland you ask? Well visiting during the winter is simply breathtaking. Take a trip out to the Urho Kekkonen National Park. It is an actual winter wonderland. You can cross the fresh snow on a reindeer pulled sleigh! Or go cross-country skiing! You can also stay in an igloo!

 

 

 

 

Munich

If you go for only one reason alone, it would to see the hundred-foot Christmas tree. The markets are also a wonderful part of Christmas in Germany. The squares are full off vendors selling mulled wine, gingerbread, and also live holiday music!

 

 

 

 

 

 Charleston

If traveling across seas is not in your budget, not to worry! South Carolina has a lot to offer! Bourbon spiced eggnog, roasted pecans, and choir singing! The streets are decorated with garlands and wreaths adorn all the houses. A prefect quaint Christmas! Not to mention the wonderful food found in Charleston!

 

 

 

 

 

 Boston

Boston is a natural choice for the holidays. The New-England charm is full of coziness! The cobblestone streets covered in snow are picturesque! Boston has so much to do from great bakeries and breweries to sports and shopping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course there are hundreds of other places to venture to during he holiday season. Skiing, the mountains, somewhere tropical. So if you are thinking of getting away this winter, do not hesitate to call Travel Planners at 205.870.3031. We can help you celebrate the holidays in style!

 

 Happy Holidays! Stay Safe!

Travel Tips // 2014

As we enter the last few months of 2014, we start making travel plans for 2015. Over the years as I have traveled I have heard "do this" or "avoid that". Working for a travel agency, I have been educated on the many do's and do not's of the travel world. I have compiled a list of some of the most valuable information when it comes to great travel tips. 

1.) Avoid chain hotels: By staying in a small boutique or family-run hotel, you will be saving more money than you think. You will also have a more unique experience in the area you are vising. 

2.) In countries rich in history and culture (Italy, France, Japan), go off the beaten path: You will avoid the usual crowds and higher prices and in return find better food, shopping, and so on! 

3.) Be wise when choosing flight days: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays are the least-popular travel dates for domestic flights. 

4.) Take a layover tour: Many cities will offer a layover tour. So if you have a long layover, take advantage of the layover tours. Have a 5 hour layover in Paris? Go explore! 

5.) Buy insurance: I can't say it enough. BUY INSURANCE! Yes, it costs a little extra, but you will thank yourself in the long run. What if a family member gets sick? Canceling the trip would cause you to lose everything! Not if you had purchased trip insurance. When asked if you want to add it, don't hesitate. Say YES! 

6.) Scan important documents before you leave: In the event of theft or misplacement, you will be glad you scanned your passport, cards, etc. 

7.) Use a travel agent: I know, coming from someone who works at a travel agency, this comes off as biased. But now that I know how much easier traveling is after using an agent, I will never travel internationally without one! Plus using a travel agency is FREE! So, why not?

Tip from Hayden: As a treat to yourself, send yourself a postcard from each day of your travels. It will be a nice treat to come home to and make the transition to reality easier! 

Guest Blog // Kay English Photography - Fall Wedding

Fall is pretty much just around the corner here in Alabama. That means pumpkins, changing leaves, crisp mornings, and cozy nights in front of the fire with a wool blanket. Alright, I am obsessed, if you can't tell. 

Autumn is a beautiful time to get married and the decorating can be so much fun! I was searching Pinterest (go figure) for great fall wedding inspirations and I came across Kay English Photography. She is a wedding photographer based in New Jersey and WOW, they are beautiful! And of course I fell in love with her post about Fall wedding.

Kay English Photography

In her blog she mentions that "Fall weddings are the new Spring weddings." I could not agree more. Maybe it is just my obsession with the season that makes me biased, but I believe that Fall is the new Spring. Yes, Spring bring the new life and the pretty pinks, but Fall is accompanied by the rustic colors and the sense of new beginnings. 

Decorating for a Fall wedding is exciting. The burlap (which seems to always be popular), the sunflowers, gold, lace, and wood are all used frequently in rustic Fall weddings. 

The Fall color pallets are probably my absolute favorite. Have fun with it. Combine the reds with the browns and pinks. The pop of color against a white wedding dress is breathtaking. Sage, gold, and deep purple are also gorgeous. 

     

She talks about the importance of a centerpiece for a Fall wedding. Don't be timid. Go big or go home! The centerpiece is usually the first thing your guests will see when they walk in to the reception. Make it a statement. 

Have fun with the planning and decorating. Fall brings so much organic aspects. Use the pumpkins, the acorns, and even the fallen leaves to draw inspiration! 

This last picture is my favorite! I love the incorporation of the pumpkin candy corn! 

Happy Fall Y'all!

Diving // The World's Best Dive Sites

I have never been diving but I hear it is a life changing experience. Although, I am not sure I would be able to get over my fear of sharks! All over the world, there are numerous locations known for their amazing diving spots. Take a look at some of the following!

Costa Rica - Cocos Island

The journey is far, but it promises beauty. The island is said to have inspired Jurassic Park. The waters are filled with hammerheads and white-tip reef sharks and are usually frequented by experienced divers.  The island is beautiful and only stretches four miles!

Australia - Magnetic Island

About five miles offshore from Townsville in Queensland, Australia, Magnetic Island offers wide range of diving options. There is plenty of amazing marine wildlife to see and even dive to the world-famous S.S. Yongala wreck. A fantastic dive to see marine and coral life!

Belize - Ambergris

The water here is teeming with life and is home to the famous "Blue Hole" which is a 350ft deep circular hole in the ocean where you can dive down. The water is full of rays and hammerheads. You will see hard corals, sea fans, shellfish of amazing variety, and even may spot a manta ray! 

Micronesia - Truk Lagoon

In the early 1940's, an entire Japanese fleet sunk in the Truk Lagoon and remains there as an underwater museum. The wrecks can be seen by snorkelers, but best explored by scuba. Definitely a must see for those who love diving and seeing new things! 

Scotland - Arran

The Island of Arran, which is twelve miles off the coast of Ayrshire in the Firth of Clyde offers breathtaking scenery and even more superb dive sites. It is teeming with seals and dolphins. You may also see Orcas and a wide variety of shellfish! 

There are dozens of other great dive sites around the world, these are just a handful of the beauty diving  offers!