March News from VBH Travel

Message From Heather

I'm flying above the continental United States as I write this returning home from a wonderful week exploring Japan! It was a whirlwind trip -- from Saturday to the following Sunday (just 5 days out of the office and 7 nights in destination!) I explored Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka with a small group of travel advisors and some of our Classic Vacations partners. It's a wonderful destination to experience first-hand: there's a terrific mix of modern energy, ancient sites, amazing food and top-notch hospitality. Everywhere we explored was clean and safe and there are ways to enjoy this destination for all sorts of travelers, from independent explorers to families and couples looking for relaxation. I am already scheming to return with my family and looking forward to sharing my first-hand experience with clients to enhance their travel plans. A few highlights/tips for those considering Japan for their travel plans:

- Sakura (Cherry Blossom Season) coincides with many Spring Break vacations, making it a great time to enjoy the destination, but it also means that it's popular and things book up early, so if you're hoping to go for Spring Break 2025, schedule some time to talk this Spring to get the best pricing and availability.

- Fall is also a wonderful time to visit, with amazing foliage viewing opportunities and fewer crowds than Cherry Blossom season

- The weather is quite similar to New York City -- summer can be very hot, but if that's the best time for you to travel, consider early morning touring and a hotel with a pool!

- Make sure you bring an extra bag to bring home all your purchases... I'm not a huge shopper, but Japan's mix of fun clothes and shoes, tasty treats and excellent kitchen wares made it hard to resist bringing home some treasures.

- If you want to experience the Onsen in Japan, it's good to know that they don't allow visible tattoos (though our resort had tattoo covers available) and everyone is nude in the single-sex public baths, so it can be nice to have a private Onsen available if you might be uncomfortable using the public baths.

- Bring a small washcloth and hand sanitizer -- the public restrooms were (nearly all) impeccably clean, but few provided soap or towels/dryers for washing/drying hands.

A Little Bragging... and a Lot of Gratitude

Out of over 5000 agents that are part of KHM Travel Group, Heather and VBH Travel were nominated for 4 awards for 2023 traveled sales and we won 2! I am so proud of the VBH Travel team that makes all of this possible and a very big thank you to all our loyal clients for trusting us to plan your vacations -- we wouldn't be successful without your continued support!

Heather won:
* 2023 Classic Vacations Agent of the Year
* 2023 Travel Insured Agent of the Year

And we were in the top three finalists for:
* 2023 East Region Agent of the Year
* 2023 Top Agency

Girlfriends Getaway 2024 Recap

It's hard to believe that it's been over a month since we returned from our 2024 Girlfriends Getaway. This is the fourth time we hosted this trip and it was the best and biggest yet! Over 75 women joined us at Atelier Playa Mujeres for four days of sun, sand, rejuvenation and relaxation. We plan to launch our 2025 offering fairly soon, so stay tuned! This year we sold out during our early-bird promotion, so don't delay when we do announce it. And if you'd like to be among the first to know, please sign-up for our 2025 GFG waitlist (no need to sign up if you’ve attended previously, since you’ll get a special advanced notification!)

After the trip, Holly, Lauren and I spent another day in the area visiting hotels for our guests. We can’t wait to share our new favorites with you!

Where Are You Heading Next?

January and February have had VBH Travel clients visiting fantastic destinations including South Africa, the Galapagos, and many beach escapes! Heather, Holly & Lauren have been busy helping plan trips for upcoming school breaks, summer adventures and even making plans for some clients for 2025!

If you're traveling over peak times, earlier is almost always better to ensure the best pricing and availability. If you have a trip in mind (or even if you're not sure where you want to go) please schedule a free vacation planning session with us so we can get the process started.