Have passion, will travel

Debbie Simmonds loves to travel.

She recently returned from a river cruise in France, which started in Nice and ended in the River Seine in Paris.

"It's a wonderful way to travel," said Simmonds, an independent travel consultant with Travel Professionals, Inc., who added that the cruise gave her the chance to settle into one place while exploring France through its rivers.

Her trip through France is one of many varying vacations Simmonds offers through her business. A travel agent for 10 years, she first started working in other travel agencies before she recently decided to make a go of it on her own, opening her branch of TPI on June 1.

"This gives me the opportunity to do things my way," she said. "I can take all the strengths I've learned over the last 10 years and put them into the business."

Simmonds is sharing office space with Dominion Lending Centres, a national mortgage company that is locally staffed by Maria Titerenko as part of Team Kehler, which covers most of Saskatchewan.

Some of the strengths Simmonds developed include developing specialties in making vacations in certain places in the world, such as Ireland and Disneyland.

She said vacations to any of the Disney properties in the world are still a popular destination for most families.

"Disney and families just go together," said Simmonds.

Other popular trips include heritage and genealogy trips, as well as trips to parts of Western Europe.

For the well-traveled agent, seeing her clients react to the new experiences and places they explore is part of the joy of her job. She understands much of what they go through upon their return, and hopes their vacation acts as a starting point to a lifelong love of travel.

"They get bit by the travel bug and their horizons are broadened and they can't stop traveling."

kjarvis@paherald.sk.ca