I recently returned from a trip to Negril, Jamaica. It is absolutely one of my most favorite destinations to relax and unwind. I stayed at Beaches Negril, which is a wonderful resort catering to families. Beaches all-inclusive resorts includes all the fun, adventure, and luxury that families want most, elevating the family vacation to world-class standards on the Caribbean's best beaches. And now kids can share their vacation with Elmo and friends with Beaches' exclusive Caribbean Adventures with Sesame Street.

Located amidst twenty lush acres fragrant with the scent of jasmine, and rich with tropical flora, lies this enchanting resort. Classic island architecture effortlessly brings the outside in, blending fine woods and polished marble with the dramatic detailing of stone arches and hand-painted domed frescoes. Beaches Negril has a beautiful beach, friendly people and wonderful children activities that all combined are what make this resort an excellent choice!

My most recent adventures have taken me to Jamaica, one of my favorite places in the entire world. I spent a week touring the area of Ocho Rios where we climbed Dunns River Falls and took a spectacular ride in an open air jeep through the country side to the Home and museum of Bob Marley, the famous Reggae singer. I especially enjoyed traveling through Fern Alley in the rain forest and visiting a coffee plantation and a medicinal farm, where herbal medications are grown.

In August I sailed on the Holland America, Zuiderdam, with my 14-year-old son, as part of a yearlong training program that I have been involved with for the cruise line. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a long time. The service, dining and entertainment were wonderful.

I visited Mayan Riviera in April with my 14-year-old daughter. We both enjoyed all aspects of this destination. With the white sand beaches and the warm turquoise water. We also took day trips to Cancun and Cozumel. We walked up to 5th Avenue everyday and experienced a new restaurant each day. The food was reasonably price and delicious.

Each night we had a different cuisine from Italian to gourmet to Mexican or something as simple as Johnny Rocket's. The people are very friendly. The silver and tequila are reasonably priced.

Travel today is turning out to be more diverse and exciting than I’ve seen it in my 20 plus years in sales. There are more destinations and modes of travel available than ever before, and Virtuoso has allowed me to offer these options of new and exciting opportunities and destinations to seasoned travelers as well as well as first timers.

I have personally traveled to many destinations throughout the world, most recently to the Galway and Shannon regions of Ireland. I toured and stayed at many 5 star properties, including The Dromoland Castle with its incredible old world charm. I was especially impressed with its uniquely decorated, and spacious rooms, as well as the special accoutrements offered such as falconry, pheasant hunting and a Championship golf course.

Every day, more and more people are discovering the all-inclusive pleasures of a cruise vacation. You'll find that a cruise ship is a floating resort, with all the things a fine resort has to offer and more! Cruising provides anything you want: socializing, relaxing, destinations, great food, best entertainment, activities, accommodations, and more.

FACT - Cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience. You can budget for many different cabin categories and know what your upfront costs are before you travel. If you have a larger group of 20 people or more, you can often obtain greater discounts and amenities based on the size of the group. More singles, families, couples, honeymooners, second honeymooners and groups of friends are sailing away on the vacation of their lives.

I have cruised the Mediterranean from Barcelona to Portugal, in Greece, and the Caribbean and Hawaii, on more than 30 trips. Cruising is fast becoming the most popular mode of travel as peoples needs and desires are constantly being addressed by the cruise industry. I guarantee that if you’re a first time cruiser, it won’t be your last! You veterans know what I’m talking about.

I am here to accommodate you and your dreams for a perfect vacation.

The past year has been a year of growth and professional changes for me.  I’m transition after 24 years from being a licensed clinical social worker that has worked the past 15 years with Sweetser to become a leisure travel consultant with Hurley Travel Experts to capitalize on my 29 years of personal travel experience.

Over the years, I’ve swum in the azure waters of Santoríni, Greece, swung through the rainforest canopy of Costa Rica with howler monkeys, and took Flamenco dance classes in Venezuela. I’ve backpacked solo through Europe and been pampered during a two-week spa getaway in Ojai, California.

I learned to prepare Tuscan cuisine with an expert chef in Siena, Italy, cruised among glistening glaciers in Seward, Alaska, climbed the formidable Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park and skied the fearsome mountains of Nakiska Ski Resort in Calgary, Alberta. I hiked into Kilauea Caldera on the Big Island of Hawaii and watched the searing lava flow, feasted on fresh seafood in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia and watched a pod of 30 Orcas off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Last year I spent a few weeks in Alaska exploring a small fraction of what this vast state has to offer. In the quaint fishing town of Cordova, I went white water rafting by glaciers, kayaking alongside sea otters floating on their backs, and watched a trumpeter swan feeding in the Copper River Delta. I ran my hands across the tops of red salmon running up river and witnessed a bald eagle feeding her eaglets. I cruised to Kenai Fjords National Park and stood in awe as glaciers calved around me, while sea lions sunned themselves and humpback whales flapped their tails.

I saw my first puffin and held an ice worm straight out of glacier. I hiked in Denali National Park, flew around the peak of Mount McKinley, the continent’s tallest peak, and saw caribou, moose, dall sheep, an alpha wolf and brown bears with their cubs, to name a few. I hiked to Exit Glacier and stood at the beginning of the Iditarod Trail. The museums, cultural history, arts and zoo helped fill up the endless daylight hours of Alaska’s summer.

This spring I did a fly/drive trip to Oahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. I observed Waikiki Beach and Honolulu from atop Diamond Head, danced the Hula, watched surfers and ate authentic Hawaiian. I swam with sea turtles, amazing brightly colored reef fish. Humpback whales were breathtaking as they powered through the waters off the coast of Maui.

Lahaina was a great spot for jewelry and art shopping, fine dining and live entertainment. Night diving with manta rays was exhilarating. The drive through the rainforests toward Hana included endless waterfalls, hikes into caves, along black beaches and in search of ancient heiau temples. I stood on top of Haleakala at 10,000 feet and saw native silverswords.

On the Big Island, I hiked to the active volcano of Kilauea and watched it send hot lava into the Pacific creating new land. As I walked along the moonscape of Volcano National Park, I soaked in the sulpher smells, felt the heat of the Volcano’s steam vents and marveled at the surviving flowers and plant life. I walked through an actual lava tube, saw mountain goats and stood under a mountain waterfall.

The Hawaiian Islands that I visited were each different in their landscape, beauty and character. I’ll always remember the constant smell of flowers in the air and the contrasts between the black lava coastline and the plush green plant life of the rainforests. When asked which island I liked the most, I have difficulty answering because each island had so much to offer.

We live in an era of increasing employment expectations and limited time off for family, friends and travel, not to mention travel planning. Your time is precious and I can help you maximize your travel value. I am committed to helping people see their holiday dreams can be reality.

Please call me so we can create your next adventure together.