Travel with the experts
WHY book with Leongatha Travel and Cruise when there are so many options for booking online?
For the unmatchable service and the security of knowing that you have someone with you all the way, from when you depart until when you return.
Proprietor Jill Carmody has 30 years experience in the travel industry and 23 of those as an owner manager.
She is well known in the local community as a travel agent who goes the extra mile.
She doesn’t see her work as being done once your flight has backed away from the terminal; Jill is with you all the way.
If anything should go awry, she cares about your wellbeing regardless of where you are on the planet.
Countless stories abound of her professionalism and generosity.
After Dennis Conn of Whitelaw booked his first overseas holiday with her, he would not consider trusting any travel arrangements to anyone else.
Mr Conn said, “Jill Carmody went out of her way; she was remarkable.”
She has travelled to every continent and of course finds it hard to nominate a favourite destination; she just enjoys travelling full stop and takes in each experience as unique and individual.
What Jill does say, however, is that she would return to Botswana and the Okavango Delta in a heartbeat.
She enjoys travelling with her husband Ed and with other travel agents when she has the opportunity to take up a top achievers trip, of which she has done many, for some of Australia’s top travel suppliers and airlines.
Jill is an expert when it comes to organising and leading tour groups.
When asked what she never leaves home without Jill says, “A showerproof jacket and a cash passport/debit card loaded with currency for major destinations and Australian currency.”
Otherwise her advice is to always consult a GP well before departure to ascertain if there are any vaccinations recommended for your destination and get as much rest inflight as possible.
Drink lots of fluid, particularly water, and don’t overstimulate your mind so that you arrive fresh and ready for the experiences that await you at your destination.
Walking tours are recommended as an ideal way to see a lot and to connect with a destination.
With her favourite French impressionist painter being Auguste Renoir, Jill says the Musee D’Orsay in Paris is her favourite art gallery.
In December there are still spaces available on the Christmas Market of Europe tour Jill is leading.
It will take in the atmospheric Christmas markets of Germany, Austria the Czech Republic and Switzerland for the craftwork on display and the cultural traditions which cannot be emulated elsewhere.
Senior consultant Renee McLennan’s nine years experience in the travel industry follows nine years working in hospitality.
Renee has a Diploma of Travel and Tourism.
Her favourite destinations are Turkey for its food, the amazing historical sights and the gobsmacking city of Istanbul.
Renee says a trip to South Africa to experience its national parks and animals was also unforgettable as was getting out amongst the villagers to experience their fascinating way of life.
“Pack your patience for travelling,” says Renee.
“Other countries more often than not are nothing like home. It can take some time to acclimatise and get used to local customs. Nothing will be what you are used to but that, after all, is the point of travelling.”
Renee says she loves to use public transport at her destination (“figuring it out is fun”) and hop-on-and-hop-off buses are a useful way to get to know a city.
One of her favourite travel memories is of the Taj Mahal as well as cruising along the Rhine River and looking up at the hill top castles and the vineyards that spill down the steep hillsides.
Senior consultant Vanessa Roberts hails from Mirboo North and has five years industry experience.
Vanessa has also worked in hospitality and spent a year travelling.
She does not have to hesitate before she says, Italy when asked for her favourite destination.
Vanessa spent 12 months living in the country and said, “I still haven’t seen it all. The food, the people, the scenery; it is an incredible country.”
“Never leave home without insurance and credit cards and look after your passport. Everything else you can buy.
“Be the traveller you would like to travel with; be kind and thoughtful to others, patient and always remember your manners.”
Vanessa’s advice when inflight is to stay hydrated and be respectful of other passengers and crew.
“Read up on your destination to help pass the time and when you are finally on the road, travelling between cities by train is a wonderful way to get around.
As for memories, “How could I forget watching the sun set from the rim of the Grand Canyon?”
Between them, Jill and her consultants have been almost everywhere.
They don’t just have product and destination knowledge and years of experience, but bucket loads of it.
They have everyday experience of the best booking engines with the best rates and can check instant availability of flights and accommodation with as little as 24 hours notice.
The team at Leongatha Travel and Cruise travel extensively and attend regular product updates to increase their knowledge.
Heading off: from left, Jill Carmody, Renee McLennan and Vanessa Roberts are just part of a wonderfully professional team at Leongatha Travel and Cruise. Combined, the staff amount to more than an encyclopedia of worldwide travel and know every in and out there is to know.
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Posted by Sarah Vella on Oct 20 2015. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
