Displaying items by tag: advisors

Hello everyone, my name is Shelley and I have been working for Rubinsohn Travel for 21 wonderful years! Recently, I was interviewed about my experience as a travel agent and wanted to share.

To start, can you give me just a brief background, tell me a little bit about yourself, your position at Rubinsohn Travel and why you got involved in the travel business?

I caught the travel bug as a child when my family took a holiday vacation to Freeport, Bahamas. This vacation was a long time ago, in November 1963! As a child, seeing the blue ocean and sandy beaches, I knew that I wanted a career in the travel business. I grew up on Long Island and I eventually met my husband in Boston, Massachusetts. During this time, we were both attending college.

Have you always traveled, even when you were young or was it something that became more prominent as you were an adult?

I started in the travel business 28 years ago with Travel Etc. in Lafayette Hill, P.A. During my time at this company, they merged with United Travel in Jenkintown, P.A. After the merge, I worked there until 1998. This was a wonderful position but, my journey truly began when United Travel merged with Rubinsohn Travel. Currently, I have been with this company for 21 years. In the spring of 2018, I was promoted to Manager of Rubinsohn Travel!

What are your top two or three favorite trips you’ve gone on and what was the highlight part of each?

My favorite vacation was a recent River Cruise on The Mekong to Cambodia and Vietnam. Having the opportunity to experience the culture and lifestyle was something that I will always remember. Among some of my favorite memories were visiting the temples, feeding the Monks and seeing the lifestyle in both countries was fascinating.

Another memorable trip was flying into Zurich, Switzerland and seeing the beautiful countryside. While in Switzerland, we took a must see train ride through the Swiss Alps. During this excursion, we felt like we were on set of a James Bond movie.

What is your biggest travel goal you have yet to reach? Where is your next travel destination?   

I have had a lot of wonderful travel experiences in my lifetime but there are still many sites to see around the world. If I had to choose two top places on my bucket list I would say an African Safari, and a Galapagos Island cruise.

Do you have any travel tips for new travelers looking for a new adventure. If so, what are they and how have you avoided “bad” travel experiences?

My number one travel trip is to be sure to take out travel insurance. The insurance will cover medical emergencies, any lost or delayed luggage, trip delays and missed connections. It is important to be prepared for the unexpected, especially when traveling to a foreign country.

Also, you should pack at least one day of clothing in your carry on. There is always a chance that your bags are lost or even delayed. So, it is essential to be prepared and have extra clothing.

Below are a collection of some of my pictures from a sailing trip through NYC and some sights from Cambodia and Vietnam:

Hello everyone, my name is Adrienne and I have been working for Rubinsohn Travel for almost 16 years. Recently, I was interviewed about my experience as a travel agent and wanted to share!

Q: What is your educational background and when did your travels begin?

A: I grew up in a business oriented family and received a degree from Temple with a BBA  and a concentration in marketing and management. This was a major accomplishment and I found that I had a variety of career options with my degree.

Personally, my travel began as a child with car trips from Philadelphia to Florida to visit my family. As a teenager, my family and I explored Disney World in 1971. I took my first international trip when I was 16 years old to Spain and I was hooked! At 19 years old, I traveled to Israel for the first time. For myself, traveling is much more than just seeing places, it is getting to know the history, culture, and marveling at all of the architecture.

Q: How did you get interested in the travel industry?

A: I got involved in the travel industry by accident in 1996. Although I always enjoyed traveling, I knew nothing about the industry itself. One of my close friends who was opening a travel office, asked for my assistance and as I helped her, I gained knowledge about the industry. As the years went on, I found myself enjoying the business. I began taking seminars, tourism courses and traveled to many places which offered first-hand experience. Unfortunately, my friend’s office closed. Then, I was referred to Rubinsohn Travel in 2003 by a supplier representative, and this is when my journey began.

Q: If you had to select your favorite travel destination, where would it be?

A: Israel will always be my highlight trip. It is a country that has become my second home. Whenever I speak to my clients, I always tell them how Israel will capture their heart. For myself, it is more than a spiritual awakening, there are many activities and sites to see. My second favorite is Tanzania and the Great Migration. I enjoy taking a safari when I visit the continent because I have always been an animal lover. I enjoy waking up pre-dawn and exploring the bush in an open jeep, as the animal kingdom awakes is exhilarating. Few journeys can compare!

Q: What was the last trip that you took?

A: The last trip that I took was to Croatia. It is one of the most charming countries I have visited. The people are so warm and welcoming, the nature and Adriatic Sea is breathtaking, and the food is delicious and fusions of different Mediterranean countries.

Q: If you had to set one travel goal what would it be?

A: One of my travel goals is to visit Nepal and Bhutan. Having been in India, it seems almost natural. Coming up next in May is Alaska, the inside passage. March 2020 will be Israel leading a group and May 2020 I will be traveling back to South Africa with an Emmy award winning photographer.

Q: What makes you enjoy travel and want to continue doing it?

A: Each place I visit I meet new people, learn more about their cultures and history. Additionally, the beauty and special ambiance is something that destination offers. Whether it is the nature, architecture or the food. I have grown to love photography, so almost anything can compose an amazing picture. Finally, the best part is that I get to share the information and memories with family, friends and clients!

Q: If you had to give “travel tips” to new travelers, what would that advice be?

A: New adventures can be exciting when planned the right way!  My number one piece of advice, don’t be cheap with your vacation. Consider your budget before you begin your search. Make sure you plan reasonably. If you live on the east coast, don’t expect to fly to Hawaii for 5 nights. Travelers can avoid bad experiences many times by doing some research and building the proper expectations. Just because a family member or best friend had the time of their lives on their last vacation, their tastes may not fit yours. The top suggestion on my list is to speak with a professional travel advisor, someone who does this full time, not as a hobby or something to ‘earn extra money.’ This gives the client the time to ask questions. One of the ways I remain successful is I know my travel partners. They need to be well vetted, insured and members of select travel industry organizations.