Group Travel & All Inclusive Resorts Chat With Lorie From Memory Bank Travel

TMPE61 - Lorie Memory Bank Travel
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Jenn: hey everyone. Welcome back to the Travel Mug Podcast. Um, It's no secret at this point that Meggan and I love planning travel. Like planning travel is half the fun to me

Meggan: Yes.

Jenn: Than actually traveling. But planning travel comes with its own like particular set of challenges. So today we're bringing on Lorie from Memory Bank Travel. She's a travel agent based in Truro Nova Scotia. I struggle with that place name.

Meggan: Truro??

Jenn: That's the South Shore accent ,

Meggan: Right.

Jenn: So Lorie specializes in group travel destination weddings as well as individual travel. So, hi Lorie. Welcome to the Travel Mug Podcast.

Lorie: Thank you so much for having me.

Jenn: Great. My pleasure. Love your travel name because. It is all about making memories. That's what we're all about. So

Lorie: It is, and I always say it's banking memories. One vacation at a time.

Meggan: That's right.

Jenn: That tell us about memory bank travel and sort of how it came to be and why you became a travel agent.

Lorie: Honestly, I came, became a travel agent by Fluke. So I was going into real estate and a lot of things was happening when I left that. And I walked by the agency that I booked a cruise with and I seen that he had a sign on his door saying that he was looking for part-time work. And I walked in and I said to him, I'm available if you need somebody.

And he was like for a cruise? And I'm like no to work. And, and he's like, okay, fill me in. So I just talked to him and yeah, I started working with them as an admin and doing like, you know, all their paperwork and filing. And then he had me just doing some searching up of trips and things for him. And they had two offices.

One was in Bayers Lake, one was over in Bedford and so I went back and forth and helped out when I could, and then I was bringing people to them. So I had friends asking me questions and you know, I'd be like, Here, like, these guys wanna know about a cruise or about an all inclusive, And then it just kind of, he was like, Why don't you do the training and get involved and start selling yourself? So I did it on my spare time and low and behold, here I am.

Meggan: Here you are! I love that. Well, obviously, you know, It's so funny how people find careers. Like I didn't set out to be in the job that I'm in, and, but somehow along the way, certain things lead you to other things and, and here we all are, we all . We all ended up here somehow, so that's really great. I love that. I love it when people like accidentally find careers that like make them happy. So that's awesome. Now, Obviously we love traveling. That's why we have a travel podcast. But you know, from your perspective, what are some of the favorite places that you've traveled?

Lorie: Oh my God, all of them. . Um, I must say, you know, I love Paris. I love Rome and Florence, and, you know, Tuscany, so Europe, I think it's just, they're just, there's no bullshit, if I can say it. He just does their thing and there's no complications, and you know, they shut down for lunches. They, they open back up late at night and there's no, I don't know, it doesn't seem like there's a routine. You just go and do your thing and it's just so different compared to what it is around here.

Meggan: Yeah, no, we both really, really love Europe too. Like It's like when you step off the plane into Europe, no matter where it is, it just feels different.

Jenn: It does,

Lorie: yes. And everything's original, like, you know, so like the cobble cobblestone roads and things that are broken and there's pieces missing and there's a pothole in there that's, you know, four feet deep and it been there, and then you went, you go back years later and it's still there and nobody, But you wouldn't get away with that here. So it's just, you know, it's great. I really love it.

Meggan: Yeah, it's authentic for sure.

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Lorie: definitely.

Jenn: Yeah. Is there anywhere that you've traveled that maybe didn't live up to the hype that you were hoping for?

Meggan: Give us the dirt Lorie!

Lorie: There's like, I, I've traveled all over and I, I don't travel in the gliz and glam that a lot of people think that I do. I mean, I'm all about saving money too. So when I go on my fams, which are we call 'em fams, but they're like familiarization of different resorts or, you know a hotel or a cruise. So I, I do that. So, you know, when we go and I, and I tour different resorts and I different areas and things and it's great, but, you know, I have to sometimes stay at a hotel before that starts or I have to book, you know, my, my own flights and I don't go all, you know, business class and I don't book these five star hotels all the time. I, as long as it's clean and, and a nice shower and a good bed. That's how I work too. But don't, I do like my, my glam as well. So you do get spoiled, right? . But there hasn't really been a place that didn't meet my expectations,

I guess. I say Cuba's, Cuba for a reason. Like it's, it's not a glamorous place. Cuba's known for its beaches. I love their beaches and I love the people.

Meggan: Yes,

Lorie: but I feel like the price that you pay to go to Cuba now, you can get much better places for similar prices, if not a little more. And you, you're better off, you know? I mean, a lot of people book Cuba because that's where they love to go, and I totally understand. You're not gonna get better beaches than you do at Cuba.

Meggan: No,

Lorie: I'm a foodie and I just can't do the food, and I just feel like some of the resorts just aren't up to par for a four or five star resort that you would get in, you know, Dominican or Jamaica or Mexico.

Meggan: Yeah, I always say like, you know, four and a half, five star in Cuba is like three and a half star in Mexico. And you know, I do. You're right. Like the first time I saw Cuban Beach, like my jaw just hung open. It was incredible. Um, And the people are truly awesome. Last time we went, we did a tour of Havana, like a private tour, and it was, it was amazing. So for that side of thing, like I love supporting the country for those reasons cuz they also go a lot without, because of their governmental regime and whatnot as well.

Yes. But you are also spending your hard earned money, so it's important to pick somewhere that's going to meet the expectations you have and you know, Yeah. And maybe not everybody is a foodie, but you still have to eat . So, and you have to be able to find things you enjoy. And, and that is, you know, the downside of Cuba in my opinion is, you know, the food isn't, isn't quite where it should be.

But I've had great experiences and you're right, if people are dedicated though, if they have a place in Cuba, they wanna go and they've gone and enjoy. They go back. There's hardcore Cuba folks out there for sure.

Lorie: And there's nothing wrong with that, you know? No. And I know a lot of people have made friends with a lot of the Cuban folks, which is fantastic. And, and you know, and they got to experience their way of living and, and they wanna go back and support that. And they helped them out and, you know, they take them presents and, and that's fantastic.

Meggan: It is.

Lorie: I would not, not go back to Cuba, but it's not my top destination to go.

Meggan: And I think that that's fair.

Lorie: Yeah. But I've had food, like we've gone off resort and eaten at a restaurant off resort and it was fantastic. Like the food was fantastic. Right. So, yeah, it's a tough one. Yeah, yeah.

Meggan: No, for sure. So, you know, obviously, you know, we're in a different place in the world for many reasons, including like kind of the travel era So what are some helpful tips you can give people right now that might be preparing for an upcoming trip, you know, in the next two to three months? I know we can't even really predict anything, but if you could give some tips on that, what would you say?

Lorie: Book early! And I'm not saying that because I'm a travel agent and I want people to book, but it's so, so important right now. I have so many people booking now and I've never been this busy this time of the year, especially in the summer, like resorts are booking up fast. The flights to get there are filling up. So book early and you know, if you're booking flights to go to Florida or flights to go to another destination book early flights. Book flights a day before. There's just so much happening at the airports with delays and everything. It's just book early. That's the biggest thing. Book early for your flights, book an early flight book a day before.

Jenn: Mm-hmm. . Yeah, I totally get that. Like I know people who've done cruises who've like flown in the day of the cruise and at this, you know, at this point in time that

Meggan: that's terrifying

Jenn: crazy. I would've never have done that anyway, but in today's world, like you can't do that anymore. You just can't.

Lorie: It's so unpredictable. So we did a conference, my, the company that, my parent company that I book with and our conference was on the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas and our flight was the day before and we were to leave Halifax to go into Montreal and Montreal to Orlando. Me and my coworker had the same flight, same, you know, package. We were sitting beside each other the whole time, and our flight to Halifax, wherever it was coming from, was delayed. Right? So we missed our connecting flight. When we got to Montreal, I went to Washington. She went to Boston and we went from Washington to Orlando.

She went from Boston to Orlando. We were supposed to get in mid-afternoon. I didn't get in until 10 o'clock that evening. She didn't get in until after midnight.

Meggan: Oh, wow.

Lorie: It was crazy. So it can happen to anyone anywhere, and it's just, that's why I say, how did I been the day of, We would've missed the first part of our cruise.

Jenn: Oh, that's like stressing me out cuz I'm taking that exact flight very soon. Halifax to montreal. Montreal to Orlando .

Meggan: At least you're not going anywhere for Orlando. That is something that

Jenn: I know, but I only have four days at Disney and I lose one. That's three

Meggan: Right,

Jenn: That's not enough days.

Meggan: No it's not.

Lorie: It's getting better. It is getting better. Like my coworkers from Toronto are saying like, you know, going through the airport in Toronto is much better than it has.

Jenn: Absolutely. That's, that's good. Because it was a disaster there. So

Meggan: yeah, that was embarrassing for a while. I was like, Oh, I'm not even from Toronto

Lorie: Oh, yeah. So people were scared, like people were calling me. I mean, with this, with this the, the hurricane that just went through mm-hmm. . So I had people leaving that weekend. Ready. You know, so we're trying to get them out early and then all flights were canceled right up until Tuesday. Yeah, Yeah. It was a chaotic time, but we got it. Some of 'em are, you know, had to change their departure time until a different date, so we canceled. They got their money back and they were able to go at a different time. So it all worked out for everybody. It was a little stressful. We made it work.

Meggan: Wow.

Lorie: Which is why it's important to use travel agent.

Jenn: Yes.

Meggan: Exactly. Hundred percent.

Jenn: Yes. So let's chat. I know you have like a group trip things that you do that you're organizing. So like tell us about that and booking that kind of travel.

Lorie: Oh, now you're gonna get me excited. So um, a lot of people know Shaydid and Shameless from Halifax that play at the lower deck all the time. So we always have Shaydid now, the last few years I've booked it and we've taken them down south with us with hundreds of other guests with us and they play some shows during the evening. We put together some excursions as a group. We do fun evening events. We have theme nights, so we are doing that again this year. Yay. Cuz travel is back and we postponed guests and it's been so scary. But we have Shameless joining us this year as well. So we have the two bands and we're going Easter Monday, and we're coming back the following week and some people are doing 12 days. Some people are doing the 7. And we're staying at the Akumal, the Bahia Properties in the Riviera Maya.

So we have two resorts booked. We have the Sian Ka'an, which is the adult side and the Bahia Luxury Akumal which is a family side, but they're both five star resorts and the band will be playing and we have like theme nights planned, and red and White night and excursion. And so far we have 137 guests book to come with us.

Meggan: Oh, wow. And so how many spots do you have? Like tell the people.

Lorie: Totally sold out right now.

Meggan: Oh, I see.

Jenn: Wow.

Lorie: Yeah, so I'm looking to see Transat's that's put on a, a few more direct flights out of Halifax, so we're just trying to work around it to see if we can get a few more seats. So stay tuned.

Meggan: Definitely. That's exciting

Jenn: is so fun. I actually have never really heard of that kind of travel, but that's really cool. .

Lorie: Yeah, they started it a few years back. The Air Canada started at calling the East Coast Kitchen party and um, like we've hosted Paul Lamb and Cory Tetford and then Shaydid. The old company that I worked with, they did, you know, Alan Doyle River cruise which was really cool.

So I just continued with Shaydid, they've, you know, followed me when I, I'm I, I left that company and come with another, and, you know, so it's kind of, it's been great. They followed me with it and, and it's been fantastic. So it's exciting. Who doesn't love having a hundred maritimers together at a resort somewhere?

Meggan: People that aren't maritimers, that's who doesn't love it. . That's right. I was actually at a resort once and there was an east coast kitchen party. It wasn't what

we, we like, we weren't a part of it, but it just happened to be happening at the resort that we were at, and we're just like, Oh, well, all of our people are here and we hadn't even planned on this.

So it is a very cool atmosphere if you, if you're part of it, I. I, I can, I can imagine being the other side being like, who are all these crazy people? But that's what makes it fun, in my opinion. So,

Lorie: Oh my goodness. So in 2019 we did it in Jamaica and you know, I get up on stage and I introduce myself cuz most of the people I do know because I've been doing this over the years and some new faces. So, you know, when I got back down and I mingle with the crowd and I, you know, talked to everybody and I have people come up to me and they were like, So how do I get in this? Um, We wanna come next time, like, you guys are so much fun. And I'm like, Yeah, we are! Yeah, we are, we're maritimers and we know how to have fun,

Meggan: Oh, that's awesome. Well, congrats on being sold out. Hopefully you can get some more spots available so people should follow you on Facebook. We're gonna mention your socials at the end anyway, so people can follow along. On that same vein though, like are there unique, you know, challenges you have found booking group travel like that versus individual resort travel or other types of travel? Like what is that like sort of one versus the other?

Lorie: Having group travel, like, you know there's perks. So in order to do group travel you have to have 10 adults booking and you know, kids don't count as an adult, so has to have 10. You get, you know, different excursions we can get deals on sometimes. You can, we do Transat and Sunwing will offer if the group is big enough, a private shuttle, so a transfer for just your group to and from the airport and return. It's the discount. Like group travel is a discount. You can save up to hundreds of dollars by booking group travel from what you book online, and I do all the work for you.

So you tell me what it is that you're looking for. You tell me the price you wanna stick around. I send all the options that I have that I think that would work. You kind of pick that, what you, you know, you, you, I usually say pick two or three different and I'll give you the pros and cons of those. And then we choose the resort and everybody pays a deposit and it's usually $250 per person for the deposit, and then the remainder's not due until 60 days prior to departure.

So it's great for groups to be able to. You know, know that they, they have it booked and then that they can put down money you know, every paycheck they can put a certain amount for every month they can put a certain amount up until final payment. So it's not like one lump sum here and then another huge lump sum there. And you're saving, like I said, you're saving money as well. So it's, it's great. It's great perks that.

Meggan: And do you like booking that versus just, you know, a couple wants to go somewhere, et cetera? Do you have a preference for yourself? What you enjoy more?

Lorie: I don't. I enjoy all of it. I really, really do. I just, I love talking to people.

I love, I love doing what I do, Meggan, because, the excitement that people get when they know they're going away, and that's what this is all about.

Jenn: Mm-hmm. . Yeah, I love that. And I love, like the, the trip that you mentioned sounds like a really good opportunity for people, like maybe single people who want to travel and don't have like a group of friends to go with that they can book on this like big maritime trip and you're around people who have similar interests and you're kind of able to go and not feel alone, cuz I know that, that some people don't wanna go just by themselves to a resort down south and sit on the beach by themselves for a week, whatever. So having kind of a group of people with similar interest, I love that for those days.

Lorie: Mm-hmm. . Yeah. We have A couple joining us. So I have two couples actually joining us from California as well.

Meggan: Oh.

Lorie: So like I book them from all over. So that's another thing that's great about the groups is that I can book from different departure gates. So Right. Say, you know, you have a friend that's coming from Halifax and you have another friend that's coming from Edmonton or Toronto. We can still book them all in.

Meggan: Oh, that's awesome. I love that.

Jenn: So do you have any tips for people who are planning group travel maybe for the first time? Like either with the type of group travel that, that we were just talking about, or like your own personal group of family and friends?

So I recently did kind of my first like group trip. There was eight of us that went to Scotland together, and we weren't together most of the time, but it was very different for me because I'm used to traveling as just a couple. So I, what I found really different was like having the patience to wait for everybody to get ready, and We kind of thought, Oh, it's really great to stay together in the same place.

But then that got old , like, You don't wanna be together for like two weeks. So what we found really worked for us was being kind of in a similar area, but not necessarily in the same house. .

Lorie: Yeah. Okay. So yeah, I, I see where you're coming from with that one. Yeah. So an example for me would be when we did our group to Tuscany

Jenn: mm-hmm.

Lorie: And I went three days before cuz I wanted to see Rome and then we took a train from Rome to Tuscany and then we stayed three days later and stayed in Florence. Mm-hmm. so, I had, there was 12 of us all together that booked to go to Tuscany, and a lot of them wanted to do the same as I did. And you know, my thing is, is that I've never been, I wasn't to Florence before and I was never in Rome before. So I said to them, You know, you can follow me, you can hang with us. And, and the do the stuff that we're doing. However, I'm not your travel agent at this time cause I haven't been there and I wanna be able to experience. So you have questions. I'm not gonna be able to answer them fully because I'm not a hundred percent sure.

So that was, that was a little different. But uh, oh, we had fun. We did the best we could and, and made the best of things. But when I do a lot of the group bookings, when we go to Tuscany like that or if I do another European tour of some sort even coach tours and things. It's finding the excursions that meet with everybody.

So like there's, there's some walking and hiking and you know, Food and spas, like, you can do a bunch of that, but a lot of people, there's, you know, you're, you could have half of them that want to do that, and then half that doesn't. So it's having the variety for them to be able to choose if they wanna do the hiking or they wanna do the spa, so.

Mm-hmm. .

Meggan: Yeah, and I think that, you know, having listened to you two, cause I've not really done any group, group travel, so I think the thing, if someone's gonna plan a group travel as well, is you have to be understanding that not everyone's going to want to do what you do want to do. So either you have to decide to go with the group if there's a majority.

Or be okay to say, You know what, I'm gonna do my own thing today. And that has to be like, okay. And I think maybe even having that discussion before you travel to say, You know what? You know, we all love each other and whatnot, but this is gonna be a long period of time. So we just have to really understand that if you wanna do your own thing, that no one takes that personally or whatever the case might be.

I think setting some ground rules might also sort of, and I don't mean rules, but like just having that conversation might be a good idea as.

Lorie: Exactly. Yeah. Yeah, yeah,

Jenn: I definitely agree with that for sure.

Lorie: I do have another group we were talking about it, so I do have another March break group. I have a couple actually.

Meggan: Okay.

Lorie: And I'm just gonna pull it up here. So one of them is going to the Ocean Coral & Turquesa, in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, March 12th to the 19th um, With Sunwing pricing starts at 2248 per person, which is, and this, this includes tax and it's for the all inclusive which is a savings of $200 per person than what you would purchase online, which is huge savings.

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Lorie: and another one leaving March 11th to the 18th. Going to the Melia Las Antillas in a Varadero, Cuba so that one is starting at 2188 per person. So I know March break is a big, big time for travel for a lot of teachers and students. So it's good to have a little extra perks with the savings when it comes to group travel or traveling individually with that. So,

Meggan: Excellent. Oh, that's great. Yeah, no people, people that have those restrictive kind of schedules need to really plan in advance as well, because everybody is potentially going somewhere that time of year just because of school and whatnot, so that's excellent. Yeah. So. Before we let you go though, I think it's important and, and you know, we have talked about this and, and we hype up, you know, travel advisors all the time because your work is so important and it can really be such a value to people. But talk to people from your perspective as a travel agent or travel advisor. Why do you think using your services is like so important and what do you think is the value you bring that people might not even be aware of?

Lorie: My expertise, my knowledge of the resorts and of the cruise ships and of the destinations that you wanna go. I've been to a lot of the places. I've been to a lot of the resorts. I've been on many cruise ships. So knowing the ins and outs and knowing the the places is a huge thing for people to know. You know, when they have the questions to ask me, I have the answers to give them. So also, Not a lot of agents do this, but I do.

You have me when you're on vacation, you have me 24/7. You have my cell phone. So if something happens, which so many times does, you know, you're traveling in the wintertime and, and, and, Right. The, the flights are delayed or you know, there's a storm on our end and you're stuck in destination.

So I, I will guide you and tell you like, this is what they're telling us that you need to. Enjoy your vacation. That's what I'm for. So you get to sit back and wait for me to give you direction of what you need to do, and it's free. There's no extra charge for it, right?

Meggan: Right. No, I, I mean the value to me is, is endless. And I think too, like especially in this last, you know, couple of years, the work that has needed to be done on hold with airlines, et cetera, the behind the scenes work that people would have to do for themselves is stuff that you also take. So you, not only are you a trusted advisor, but you know, you, your role is to use your time to also do those things for people.

Lorie: Exactly. So for example, the hurricane that we just had last weekend you know, Thursday and Friday, I am busting my butt on the phone with multiple different airlines, you know, West Jet and Air Canada and, and trying to rearrange the flight schedules for people to try to get them out earlier or to, you know, we know they're not gonna get out Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and Right.

You know, most of them did cancel their flights right out until Tuesday. So finding them the flights out then, so a lot of people ended up having to cancel because they were missing three days of their vacation. So we were able to reschedule it for a different date. , doing that on your own is stressful.

Very, very stressful. So having somebody else to do it and then say, Hey, it's all taken care of. We have you booked for this date now and everything is good. Mm-hmm. sweat off your back. Right. So,

Meggan: Hundred percent

Jenn: for sure. Yeah. When we had to, we had a Mediterranean cruise booked for April of 2020, which obviously didn't happen. But it was great having a travel agent in our corner who was kind of like dealing with things as things were changing so quickly because at first it was, you know, Italy was bad, but Canada was okay and it was just really like a really stressful time that was made like easier by having someone to like text or email or call on the phone, be like, Okay, what is happening and what do we do? So,

Lorie: Right.

Jenn: Definitely huge, huge weight off of, of your shoulders For sure.

Lorie: And I think Covid. Really changed the outlook of a lot of people wanting to book with a travel agent, because they know how important it's to book with us and let us do the dirty work for you. You know?

Meggan: Yeah.

Lorie: It's just, yeah. Wow. I never ever wanna have to ever go through that again.

And people say what happens if, and I'm like, Ooh, no, no, no. We don't go back to that.

Jenn: Don't say this .

Meggan: Talk about that. Yeah, no, definitely. Well, you know what, this has been super great. Thank you so much for coming on the show. Let us know like where, and we'll of course add it to the show notes as well, but where can people find you to connect?

Lorie: I have a Facebook page, memory bank travel you can check out there. You'll see all of my deals that I post. I do travel tips. I do everything that you could possibly want from a travel agent is on my Facebook page. I also have a website, so sometimes, you know, we take breaks too and you can't reach me every time on a weekend.

And so on my website you are able to book a vacation as well at www.memorybanktravel.ca. And once you book that trip, you know it will automatically come to me and then I can take it over and help you out and guide you along the way from that.

Meggan: Oh, cool. That's great. Yeah. Excellent. Well, thanks again. As for us, you can find us on the travel mug podcast.com. Our socials, our Travel Mug podcast. Of course. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review. Um, We're so um, on Apple Podcast.

You can also support the show by buying us a coffee when you do not that we, not that we ever have them, but you will get access to fun stuff like bloopers. So yeah, why not support us. So we'll chat us again soon. Bye everyone.

Lorie: Thank you. Bye,