FAM Trip St. Lucia April 23-28, 2016 (Part 3)

(54 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Lola Stoker

Mississauga, ON

Cruise Holidays | Luxury Travel Boutique

I was born in The Netherlands and moved to Canada in my early twenties. I started my career in travel and hospitality in Ottawa and later moved to Toronto where I have lived and worked ever since. My home is in Etobicoke, a quiet neighbourhood i...

My background includes a Degree in Hotel Management from the University of Maastrict, The Netherlands. A veteran of the hospitality industry, I spent my early years working in catering, restaurant management and sales. Later, an opportunity arose in Corporate Travel Sales where I represented some of the larger corporate travel companies in Canada. Although I enjoyed this career, I was always envious of the leisure travel specialists that I met; they seemed to be having so much fun researching and booking dream vacations for their clients.

In 2012, I decided to pursue a career in leisure travel and started a boutique travel agency with my husband, specializing in cruises and custom vacations. I've learned more about myself and the world than I ever imagined. I am truly grateful to have this opportunity to help clients, who have been bitten by the travel bug, plan their trips and cruises.

Many of my clients have spent most of their lives in North America and are eager to see more of the world. Canada is an absolutely gorgeous country, but I believe that it is important for people to travel, experience different destinations and cultures to broaden their horizons and enrich their lives. This could mean an escorted tour in Asia, an expedition trip to Antarctica or a relaxing river cruise in Europe.

My background gives me a unique perspective when booking cruises and other travel experiences for my clients. Born in The Netherlands, I traveled extensively throughout Europe. After moving to Canada as a young adult, I continued to travel extensively to Asia, the Caribbean and Mexico. Eventually, opening my own travel agency will allow me to use my unique expertise to help a variety of valued clients.

I love connecting with my clients, hearing their stories and seeing their pictures of their travel experiences after they return. This was particularly true with a client who booked a trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. The client had the opportunity to stay in a jungle resort with an amazing view of a volcano, visit the city of Quito, cruise the Galapagos Islands and get close to the extraordinary wildlife there. The pictures I received after this trip were absolutely breathtaking!

While I travel quite a bit with my agency, I make sure I am available for my clients. While my clients are abroad, I make it a point of being reachable so that I can quickly respond to any questions they may have. After my clients have returned, I'm always eager to discuss their trip, not only to learn about their experiences but to find ways to improve my service to them.

My number one mission is to deliver a once in a lifetime, worry free travel experience through superior service, excellent value and relevant expertise - and I will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal!

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The BodyHoliday is also located in this area and this resort offers a unique experience. It is a wellness resort and includes all sports, yoga, meditation, and may other classes throughout the week. You also receive one spa treatment each day. The restaurants offer healthy food options as well as other resort typical meals. I was very impressed with the wellness area, located on the hill, and resembling an Asian temple. It was beautiful and very serene. Rendez Vous is located close to Castries however, the bay it is located on is very quiet and it has a beautiful beach! The resort is for couples only and offers accommodations in beach front cottages, in garden view rooms, or in ocean view suites. It is actually a former plantation and the resort is 50 years old. It is all built in a beautiful dark wood, and is very luxurious. The spa area is a lovely quiet area with it’s own pool and loungers. There is also a hidden feature which is a kind of lazy river with alcoves hidden amongst the trees and plants, where couples can relax on double loungers and can even order champagne, or dinner!The Landings just North of Rodney Bay is a condominium resort and great for families. They also feature a yacht club and offer 2-3 pool area’s one of which is dedicated to adults. It is a very high end resort and gives the ambiance of a private golf club. To put the various resorts in perspective, here is an idea of their ratings: Coconut Bay is a 4 star resort, and all the other would be considered 5 star. Coconut Bay. Sandals, The BodyHoliday, and Rendez Vous are all-inclusive. The Royal St. Lucia and Calabash Cove offer either a European plan (breakfast included), or a full optional meal plan. The Landings does not provide meals, however, you can order a stocked fridge, and even a chef to cook your meals. The resort does of course feature some restaurants. The morning of my departure, I managed to practice a bit of yoga on the beach and swam a few laps before my ride to the airport. The ride was smooth and I arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare. Going through customs and security was quick and easy. If you forgot to buy your souvenirs or duty-free, there is plenty of opportunity at the airport. After taking some shots of the spectacular landscape from the airplane window, I was on my way home. Time to start thinking about my next destination and adventure! In the meantime, you might see some stories from my business partner’s trip to Puerto Rico in late May.