IVY TJOK
Owner/Accredited Cruise Counselor
I am an Accredited Cruise Counselor and have sailed on nearly every major cruise line in the past 25 years .........so if you are planning a cruise, I am the one to talk to!
My love for travel has taken me to some incredible and exciting destinations in the world. From walking the Great Wall of China and the world famous Tianenman Square, to another famous square "The Red Square" in Moscow, and visiting the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to The Taj Mahal, a symbol of eternal love. On top of the world at 10,000 feet overlooking the ruins of Machu Picchu is pretty amazing!
Over the past years I have traveled throughout Italy and have gotten to know special places such as "Villa Le Rose" a Ferragamo villa in Tuscany and traveling the beautiful Amalfi coast including the isle of Capri. From the eternal city of Rome to Amalfi and Tuscany, and the most romantic city of all... Venice.
I have explored the South Pacific which included Australia & Tahiti. Snorkeling in Tahiti is fabulous off those over the water bungalows, but nothing compares to snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef! How about hanging out with the kangaroos and koala's on Kangaroo island? that is a special treat!
Off to Argentina! Latin Lovers & Tango! Ladies! this is the place to find your Latin Lover and give your best shot at learning the Tango! Buenos Aires is a beautiful, cosmopolitan, seductive and energetic port city, stretching south-to-north along the River Plate. Portenos, as the residents of Buenos Aires are known, have an elaborate and rich cultural identity. The best way to get to know Buenos Aires is by foot. Don't miss Bariloche, where situated on the lake is the famous Llao Llao hotel, with 360 degree view of the lake and mountains. The views are stunning! If you are up for adventure, head to Patagonia, where you will find the Perito Moreno Glacier Park. A visit to the catwalks of the National Park and the Balcony of Calafate will take your breath away. And if you are into wines, head to Mendoza or simply enjoy the beautiful Iguazu Falls.
Contact Ivy Tjok
DIANE BURDA
Owner
My travel career started with Eastern Airlines in 1970 and I've been in love with planes, trains, world class hotels and luxury cruise lines ever since! Those were the days when on a quiet Friday night in South Florida, you’d hop a flight to St. Thomas which was filled with great little hangouts, with a cast of colorful characters where you could kick off your shoes and dance to your own beat, then head back to Miami the same night. A long weekend in Paris or Rome seemed only a stone’s throw away and your next adventure was determined by the throw of a dart at a map on the wall.
After all these years it still fascinates me that you can, in a matter of hours find yourself across the world filled with new sights to discover.
My career at Prestige Travel started in 1989 and has allowed me the privilege of creating some of the most detailed and amazing voyages for some of our most discerning patrons.
I have traveled extensively and vicariously through my clients but love to get off the beaten track.
Check out my " Follow me to..." Series
• Follow me ... North to Alaska
• China ... amazing China is a recent favorite. Look for my travel article entitled Follow me to Shangri-la
Thirty years ago, UNESCO called the world’s attention to the importance of safeguarding what the earth and it’s inhabitants have left the modern world. So I make it a practice to choose areas where these World Heritage Sites exist. Among those visited are St. Petersburg Russia, Brugge , Belgium, Prague Czeck Republic, Vatican City & Florence, Budapest Hungary, Paris , Beijing & Lijang China, Haeinsa Temple in South Korea & Machu Picchu in Peru and just recently Regensburg, Germany.
Over the years Prestige Travel has assisted many local non-profit organizations with their fundraising efforts by providing luxury travel offerings for auction. My personal efforts have been directed to the "Girls" at Baines Hall and Children's Home Society on whose Board I now serve.
Contact Diane Burda
TOM MERCER
Travel Consultant
I hold a BA degree from Ohio State University, and advanced degrees in the travel industry from the Cruise Travel Academy and the University of Miami. I also have earned my Accredited, Master and Elite Cruise
Accreditations from the Cruise Line International Association. I have also attained the Cruise Specialist level of several large cruise lines.
I have escorted cruise groups to Alaska, the Baltic, Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand and the Pacific, plus river boat cruises down the Mississippi and the Danube. A favorite experience has been the three groups he escorted on land tours of Australia.
All travels have held tremendous experiences: The great state of Alaska - have you ever seen 7 whales breach at once? Alaskan wildlife? I have and it was an experience of a life time.
Russia was an incredible experience to tour and experience the history and come face to face with such famous artists work as Rembrandts and get close enough to see the brush strokes, See the many sights within the Hermitage, see the Church of the Spilled Blood and St Petersburg.
How about spending the morning riding a camel then having breakfast on the "barbie" at 32 degrees in the Australia Outback, Watching the sun come up on Uluru (Ayers Rock), sailing out to the Great Barrier Reef to see the wonders of the coral reef and then touring the Daintree Rain Forest and the Aboriginal village. So many sites and experiences in the great land of Australia.
Contact Tom Mercer
DON & JOANN HOUPT
Travel Consultants
Don & JoAnn Houpt, former owners of Prestige Travel have a loyal following of clients who love to sail with them on small luxury ships. If you would like to join them on one of their trips, contact Don Houpt at bbear@att.net to find out what the latest trip is on their schedule.
Contact Don & JoAnn Houpt
ADELE
ANDREWS
Travel Consultant
Leaving my native Canada to move to the United States would be the beginning of lifelong travel adventures. A career in psychiatric nursing career was traded for one as an international flight attendant, and worldwide travels began!
Each Luggage tag to Tokyo, Paris, Cairo, Rio or Athens became an opportunity for a new destination to be explored, a new foreign menu to experience, a new world citizen to befriend.
• A hot air balloon at sunrise skimming the treetops of the Serengeti
• Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef with a school of parrotfish as your play mates
• Explore Lodge in Patagonia with a bathtub view of Torres del Paine
• A pre-dawn hike to the top of Machu Picchu to witness the sun breaking through to reveal the
mysteries of the Lost City of the Incas
All are life's "photo-ops" for the soul!
My twenty years as a Travel Consultant, including that as an owner of Destinations Travel, have become a natural outlet to share my passion for travel. It has been my privilege to become a part of the journey-in-life with my clients. Summer camps for the children, family ski trips, honeymoons, milestone celebrations on luxury cruises, have now evolved to multi-generational family special moments to be shared. What a wonderful world, travel is!
Contact Adele Andrews
DEE
BANNON
Travel Consultant
Dee Bannon has been in the business for over 18 years. She started in New Jersey, New York, Washington, DC and finally Vero Beach, FL. She has traveled all over the world, but some of her favorite places are Egypt, Ireland and Normandy. Dee has escorted numerous cruises on Regent & Crystal. She is a Certified Crystal Cruises Specialist.
Contact Dee Bannon
BARBARA
CALDWELL
Travel Consultant
Barbara Caldwell has been in the business for over 38 years. She started in New York and was previously owner of Caldwell Land Air & Sea doing business as Clas in New City, New York, before coming to Florida and joining Destinations Travel. Barbara has organized and escorted on cruises to Europe and throughout the United States. Some of her favorite destinations are Italy, Spain and France.
Contact Barbara Caldwell
TAMMY
PRIDDY
Travel Consultant
Tammy Priddy is fairly new to the business, but she has traveled throughout the US. She is an avid tennis player and also works at Windsor as the Tennis Pro Shop Manager. If you're planning a trip Tammy would love to help you explore your possibilities.
Contact Tammy Priddy
RUBEN FLORES
Travel Consultant
Ruben Flores is our newest Travel Agent. I started in the travel business in 1981 working for several different airlines (including Pan Am), cruiselines and eventually for American Express Platinum Desk & Corporate Travel. I lived in Puerto Rico & New York and consider myself an expert in the Caribbean & Latin America. Some of my favorite places are New York, London, the Caribbean and Europe.
Contact Ruben Flores