Pictured above: Wendy along with her household on an Alaskan cruise on the Superstar Solstice celebrating her mother’s eightieth birthday. L to R: Josh Carter, Stefani Carter, Barbara Matles (mother), Hal Matles, Wendy, John Sandridge, Pierce Martin, Grant Martin, Brittany Martin, Sherri Fisher, Gabby Fisher, Steve Fisher.
The journey business is booming once more, so e book that dream trip NOW
By Alicia Wanek
Wendy Sandridge’s title could also be Luxurious Journey Specialist with TravelStore, however speaking along with her you notice she sees the actual essence of her profession is to construct relationships and create reminiscences. Journey is simply the avenue by which {couples} draw nearer, households spend high quality time, and mates have fun milestones collectively – hopefully amidst a backdrop of gorgeous surroundings, superb adventures, and scrumptious meals. Sandridge loves being the one to facilitate all of it. Her suggestion is that all of us work extra on accumulating reminiscences and fewer on accumulating issues.
“You don’t know what tomorrow’s going to convey. What higher strategy to have fun life than to see the world?”
-Wendy Sandridge
Fortunately, Sandridge, aka “Journey Mother Wendy,” is again to full pace doing what she loves after the journey business, like so many others, took an enormous hit throughout Covid. She admits, nonetheless, that a lot of the business remains to be working to get again to its pre-pandemic capability. “…Now greater than ever journey is so dynamic,” Wendy says, and, “The principles of journey have modified.” Continued flight cancellations, understaffed amenities, restrictions, and ever-changing necessities for documentation and vaccination have made the significance of working with an knowledgeable within the discipline like Wendy extra vital than ever earlier than. “We are able to navigate all of that,” Wendy assures. “We do every little thing we will to create one of the best experiences for our purchasers,” she shares.
It doesn’t matter what a consumer’s superb trip seems like, Wendy could make it occur. Her aim is all the time to make it “seamless from starting to finish, whether or not the purchasers need journey or leisure – or a bit of each.” She’s booked distinctive journeys to the identical vacation spot like Costa Rica that embody zip-lining by means of the jungle and snorkeling or that function sundown cruises and poolside cabanas. And she or he’s deliberate journeys that begin underneath the tree cover and finish on the seaside. Moreover, she will typically safe perks at inns, organize particular meals, or arrange excursions at key locations. “It’s all the time enjoyable and thrilling whether or not I’m working with somebody new or somebody I’ve labored with for many years. I get excited for what they’re doing and the place they’re going.”
“Wendy has deliberate so many holidays for us that I simply wouldn’t journey every other means!
She thinks of EVERYTHING!”– Julie Rinker
Wendy’s private data of so most of the locations permits her to assist tailor experiences for every consumer. It’s all in regards to the relationships she builds along with her purchasers along with the relationships she’s cast with journey companions in several locations all over the world. “I’m all the time attempting to attach with journey companions and attain out to colleagues to get immersed within the properties,” she says. If Wendy hasn’t personally visited the vacation spot, she has colleagues who’re vacation spot specialists in each nation to whom she will attain out. TravelStore’s tagline is, “We’ve been the place you need to go,” and that have is what permits Wendy to create customized itineraries for every visitor.
“Not too long ago I took a wonderful journey to French Polynesia with my pal Kim,” she shares. Wendy and Kim flew from DFW by means of San Francisco to get to Papeete, the capital metropolis of French Polynesia, the place they spent an evening on the Hilton Resort Tahiti earlier than starting their yachting expertise. “We sailed by means of all of the islands on Windstar Cruises’ Wind Spirit, which is a good way to see the realm and expertise the tradition. I’ve unimaginable reminiscences of our particular seaside and spa day in Bora Bora on the St. Regis getting pampered,” she says.
“Wendy is one of the best as a result of she travels the identical journeys and is aware of each element, even one of the best cabins on the ship and one of the best rooms in a lodge.”
– Katia Gordon
Don’t let the current journey tales on the information preserve you from making these journey plans. The secret is to have one level of contact in your whole journey. Erica Ramos, a member of Wendy’s staff, reminds vacationers, “If we do all of it, we will make modifications and make it seamless for the traveler.” Due to the elevated delays and cancellations, or sadly generally sickness, Wendy says, “We strongly suggest journey insurance coverage.” Securing your journey is extra vital than ever earlier than, and so long as her staff has made all of the preparations, they’ll coordinate the whole journey to adapt to something that comes up. Not too long ago, a bunch of purchasers had been assembly at a vacation spot to board a yacht for a week-long voyage. One couple’s flight delay was going to make them late for launch. Wendy was in a position to coordinate with the ship whereas maintaining a tally of flight standing, so everybody might depart collectively.
Submit-pandemic all of us appear to understand life a bit greater than we did earlier than, and Wendy reminds us, “You don’t know what tomorrow’s going to convey.” She suggests, “What higher strategy to have fun life than to see the world?” With a session, she can assist you identify one of the best trip all over the world for you and your journey companions. The choices are really limitless. Wendy’s favourite quote is, “The world is a e book and people who don’t journey solely learn one web page.” The place’s your subsequent chapter going to be?
Listed below are some feedback from Wendy’s purchasers on current holidays she has deliberate for them:
“Wendy has deliberate so many holidays for us that I simply wouldn’t journey every other means! She thinks of EVERYTHING! One journey she deliberate for us was to Italy with my daughter, who was learning overseas. It needed to be condensed due to our time constraints, and he or she seamlessly pulled collectively a stupendous journey. I had by no means been to Europe earlier than, and he or she had each airline and practice ticket at our fingertips, so we didn’t have to consider something. We traveled from the Amalfi coast as much as beautiful Cinque Terre, the place we stayed within the coolest lodge that was on the high of a cliff overlooking the ocean. There was a particular very small automobile that may take you to it! We additionally attended a non-public cooking class in a family-owned restaurant that we nonetheless speak about! Then, on to Florence, the place we had a number of days earlier than my daughter began college. We had been in a position to go to the Uffizi Museum with our “skip the road” passes, in addition to many eating places and different websites that Wendy really helpful.
Different journeys she has deliberate embody Italy with my school mates for our 60th birthdays, Spain with our different daughter, and Hawaii for our second honeymoon.”
“Wendy is so personable, has nice connections all over the world, and really is a superb pal and journey planner!”
–Julie Rinker
“Our journey to Tuscany, deliberate by Wendy, for wine tasting was a beautiful expertise that supplied us the chance to discover among the most stunning wine areas in Italy. We loved the gorgeous landscapes of rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves whereas sampling among the world’s best wines…akin to Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano,” says Rick Hubbard. “The important thing factor is the expertise Wendy brings. She is aware of the locations and the individuals firsthand as a result of she has been many occasions and he or she is ready to faucet into that have.”
“Wendy has booked my final 4 cruises, and I don’t know what we’d do with out her. Wendy is there for you one hundred pc all all through the journey, the place different journey brokers we used previously simply dealt with the reserving after which had been by no means seen or heard from once more. She is one of the best as a result of she travels the identical journeys and is aware of each element, even one of the best cabins on the ship and one of the best rooms in a lodge,” says Katia Gordon. “Wendy is there for you one hundred pc all all through the journey.”
“Mark and I celebrated his retirement as we took an incredible Caribbean trip with SeaDream 2. An enormous shout out to #travelmomWendy who organized every little thing! Journey along with her and 20 new mates (in our group) made it an unforgettable expertise! We visited St. Martin, Neves, St. Kitts, St. Barths and extra, reaching a brand new island every day. Seven days, seven ports…. Meals and repair was top-notch! Undoubtedly trying ahead to Wendy’s subsequent advice!” – DeeDee Sensible
“We had been blessed to share Charles’ 60th birthday at The Montague in Kapalua Bay. We celebrated within the Cliff Home over the water providing magnificent views, stay music and a non-public chef. We danced with our grandchildren and made lasting reminiscences,” mentioned Elizabeth Daigle. “Touring with our household is all the time stuffed with love, adventures, and the sudden,” says Elizabeth Daigle. Proven right here at Kapalua Bay, L to R: Emerson Daigle, Chase Daigle, Victoria Daigle, Harrison Daigle, Nick Daigle, Charles Daigle, Elizabeth Daigle, Jordan Coleman, Carson Coleman, Blake Coleman, Charlie Coleman, Olivia Daigle, Chloe Daigle, and Alex Daigle.
“We recognize Wendy’s laborious work guaranteeing all particulars had been executed to perfection.”
-Elizabeth Daigle
Editor’s Word: In case you are prepared to show your trip goals into actuality, contact Wendy Sandridge, Impartial Affiliate Agent for TravelStore, at 972-491-1560 or by e mail at travelmomwendy@gmail.com.
