Our regular bloggers listed below are owners and coworkers at Crossroads Travel in Richmond, Virginia. In addition, we have clients and fellow travelers who like to share their travel stories, tips and advice with us and with you. Their stories will be posted regularly on our blog as well. We hope you enjoy them! And if you have a great travel story or some great advise about a recent travel experience, please share it with us!
Dan Smith - I am the owner of Crossroads Travel Richmond and I have over 28 years of experience in both corporate and vacation travel planning. I have been able to couple my passion for playing golf with my enthusiasm for travel. I am recognized by American Express as a golf travel expert and have been published and quoted in numerous golf and travel publications. I have traveled extensively in Western Europe and have also visited most of the Caribbean islands.
Cindi Gawron – I am a CLIA Accredited Cruise Counselor and Leisure Travel Specialist with over 27 years experience. I have traveled on over 45 cruises on many cruise lines. I am passionate about matching the right hotel, resort, escorted tour, package or cruise for my clients. I have been to Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Central America, throughout the US, Alaska and Hawaii. I am currently working on my Master Cruise Counselor certification. Some of the certifications I have are: Princess Commodore, Cunard Commodore, Cayman Island Specialist, Bermuda Specialist, Cancun Specialist, Dominican Republic Specialist, Sandals Certified Specialist, and many more.
Valerie Gibson – I was born and raised in Argentina by parents who travel regularly, both for work and pleasure and sometimes I was lucky enough to go along for the ride. So the “travel bug” has always been with me. I have been in the travel industry and traveling around the world regularly since graduating from college and consider myself lucky to get to work in a field where my heart is. I travel whenever and wherever I can and I’m always looking to learn about a new place, while still going back to places I love whenever possible! I enjoy a variety of experiences, from the perfect Caribbean white sand beach to a zip-line over a cloud forest in Costa Rica; from an ancient Mayan ruin in the jungle to the perfect Left Bank café in Paris, from kayaking with humpback whales in Maui to the the tango dancers on the streets of Buenos Aires (just to name a few!). Although I love talking about and planning client trips to destinations all over the world, my top expertise and certifications are in travel to Hawaii, Tahiti, Mexico, the Caribbean, Western Europe, Costa Rica and other parts of Latin America, as well as several US destinations including Las Vegas, California and Disney World. I have extensive experience planning honeymoons as well as family vacations, couples’ travel and group travel.
Debie Parker - No, that is not a typo, it is spelled with one B. Like all travel agents who love their job, the seeds of my wanderlust were sown early. As a military dependent, my childhood was scattered across the country at a whirlwind pace. I spent seven years in Europe, and attended 13 schools over 12 years. From the mundane to the spectacular, I found this ever-changing vista fascinating. With so much of the world waiting to be explored, why would anyone stay at home? Travel for me is more than ‘seeing’, it is ‘experiencing’. A National Geographic photo will delight the eyes, but what about ‘smelling’ a Tasmanian Eucalyptus forest at dawn or ‘feeling’ the heat of Kilauea’s lava as it drops to the sea? Have you ‘heard’ Rouen Cathedral’s bells peal? Or ‘tasted’ fried grasshoppers? I have, and it was magical! (Well maybe not the grasshopper, but it was an experience just the same.) My travels have taken me throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Australia and Europe. I am a Certified Specialist for Hawaii, Sandals, Mexico, Australia and quite a few Caribbean Islands. My most recent trip took me to Paris and the D-Day beaches of Normandy. Where to next?
Rosemary Hodges – I have been in the travel industry for over 29 years. During those years I have visited at least 55 countries in Latin American, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Africa. My work experience includes management roles with 2 major airlines and an international hotel chain. I have been lucky enough to live overseas in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. My family and I love to travel and especially like to take cruises. Our favorite destination is Dubai and our favorite cruise is the Wind Surf’s Grenadines voyage from Barbados. Many of my clients take extensive trips in Europe and I enjoy the detailed planning for these multi-country vacations. I take pride in finding perfect hotels and sightseeing options for all my clients. I also plan multi-generation family vacations and have a solid knowledge of hotels and resorts in many countries. I have wonderful clients – and their interests and ideas help me plan their vacations.
