Being a small-business owner is interesting, to say the least. This isn't my first "rodeo" as a small business owner: I owned two very successful flower shops in the Denver Metro area for over 5 years and when I sold them - I promised myself I wouldn't do that again!
Yet, here I am with a Travel Agency!
What changed? Not having a perishable product, for one. Constantly worrying about "shrink" (waste), payroll, Insurance benefits and negotiating with farms was something you can't get away from when you sell a fresh product.
Now, as a Travel Agency owner, I sell my "service" - not a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant. That's when I realized what I LOVED about the flower shops was I was able to "play a part" in someone's life: from birth to funeral, weddings and celebrations and even life events such as Prom (the "promposal" did not exist 20 years ago!).
So I'd like to take a moment to thank my clients who have trusted me with their vacations and milestone journeys throughout the years: I am a lucky guy to have someone to trust me with these memories.
Here are some travel "tidbits" I'd love you to know about!
My French Adventure
If you didn't see what I was up to in the past two weeks on my social media, I'll give you a quick update here.
I've always wanted to sail Azamara Cruises - they're a small-ship entry level luxury cruise line with a VERY dedicated following.
One thing Azamara really focuses on is "time in port". On other cruises, you're typically in port for 8 hours - 10 if you're lucky. You spend your entire time looking at your watch - you can't be late!
However, on Azamara, the port stays are long. In fact, they spend 85% of the cruise IN a port of call. We frequently arrived around 7 or 8 am but didn't depart until 10 p.m.
This gives you SO MUCH time to explore the ports! From Perpignan to Toulon to Nice (which was an overnight!), there was zero rushing back. In fact, the ship (for all but one) of our ports were docked right in the heart of each city. So when I needed a quick break - it was a fast walk to the ship where I could rest up for a bit and head back out.
Azamara prides itself on the destination: and they really shine. A good number of itineraries focus on a set region or area - mine was a "France Intensive" voyage.
The ship staff was top notch - within a day a majority knew my name! There are about 700 guests in total on the ship, so NO LINES! Checking in was so fast I thought they made a mistake!
I thoroughly enjoyed the food and didn't have one bad meal - but I didn't really visit the buffet much because they always had other options (I prefer to relax a bit - it's a vacation!).
I mentioned "entry level luxury" because this ship really wasn't a true luxury experience. I didn't have a butler and the food wasn't Michelin star quality - but it did have elements of a luxury experience.
The ships are a bit older - so the cabins are from another "era" (the showers are TIGHT!) but they've all been refurbished and still quite lovely.
All that said: it packs a huge VALUE. The pricing isn't insane (a 2025 Caribbean cruise is around $3k for two) and it includes gratuities, an entry level drink package and free onboard self-service laundry (just to name a few neat inclusions).
If this piques your interest - drop me a line at john@travelprojohn.com and we can chat if it would be a good fit for you!
Explore Ireland & Scotland With The Experts!
I have had so many clients head to Ireland and Scotland wanting to explore, but not wanting to crash a rental car on tiny, winding roads. A great way to explore is through an escorted tour!
CIE has been operating for over 90 years and is THE expert when it comes to Ireland and Scotland!
Don't have a whole week? The "Taste Of Ireland" is a WONDERFUL 5 to 7 day tour of the highlights of Ireland. Have a little more PTO? Irish Adventure circles the entire island so you don't miss a thing!
And this isn't a "last minute" offer - these tours are for 2025 (plenty of time to get ready!).
If you've ever wanted to see the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - it's ALSO available on this special offer!
For a limited time - you can save an additional 10% on these fantastic tours! Contact me for more information! Check out the different tours below! 👇
Have a wonderful Halloween and I'll check back with you next month!