You might suppose " travel agent " is an occupation the net nuked just as good as " TV store clerk " and " newspaper author . " But for all the travel you now buy online , do you bank Kayak to book you an submersed wedding , or ensure the hotel you ’re staying at is stocked with your best-loved beer ? Nah , you experience better . And that ’s why travelers with discernment , with imagination , with polished tastes , or with requests they do it are just categoric - out bonkers still count on travelling agents . ( And you probably should , too . Here ’s why . )
As concierges to the world , travel agent have seen their share of outlandish postulation . We babble out to our friends at the Travel Leaders Group – a top travel means trade group – to round up some of the most impossible things their customers have asked for . And , by nature , the mode the agents made those happen .
Everything has to bejust so
" We lately had a petition from a client for a cruise holiday . The only problem was that she would only cruise on a ship that had SlimFast on circuit board . After across-the-board checking , no ship stockpile SlimFast .
" We once had a client that demanded Pepsi at the resort she was hold in . The resort only served Coke . We contacted a Pepsi distributor and they shipped a case of Pepsi to the stamping ground for the node . " –Jan Stanczak , Travel Leaders , O’Fallon , Missouri
" I have a VIP guest that absolutely refuses to delay in any hotel that does not carry Bud Light . There is no tractableness on the issue . I have to call any new hotels we are working with , always . " –Melissa Gutting , Travel Leaders , River Falls , Wisconsin
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" I had a client make certain that I had Cuban cigars and cognac delivered to his genus Bos ’ tent while on his African safari . " – Jeffrey Krudop , Travel Leaders , Fort Wayne , Indiana
" A noted customer , post - rehab , call for for 20 diptyque Baies scented taper , herbal tea , white-hot flowered arrangement , and a carton of Marlboro Reds to be in the elbow room on reaching . The whole idea was to make a super - zen feeling in the elbow room . " –Kim Reicherter , Tzell Travel Group , New York , New York
Impossible wedding (and proposal) requests
" One playfulness head trip was a marriage proposition during a total solar occultation at sea . A once - in - a - lifespan pipe dream come true . Just as the lunation passed in front of the sun and the day turned into dark , our traveler asked his honey for her helping hand in marriage . The whole ship cheered when she aver yes . Within minute of arc the sunshine was out again and Champagne was feed .
" Another client want an underwater wedding in Hawaii . We arrange it at Disney ’s Aulani hotel in Oahu . Aulani has a private snorkel pond with schools of exotic Pisces . There are several professional underwater photographers on the island who were happy to reconcile . " –Michelle Weller , Travel Leaders , Houston , Texas
" One distich wanted a James Bond - inspired gem hunt for a wedding political party as part of their pre - wedding activities . This include being on skis for part of the time in Chamonix , France . The hoarded wealth hunt club took them to a monastery and a gambling casino ( like the Bond movie ) , and ultimately on to their dinner party .
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" For a destination wedding , we had customer request that the bride be ' kidnapped ' before her marriage and be ' rescued ' by the groom . The wedding was hold at a charming hotel in Seville , Spain . As the St. Bride was robed and ready for the wedding party , she was ' kidnapped ' by ' banditos ' and hold in a hideaway until the groom could deliver her on sawhorse . " –Kara Bebell and Harlan deBell , Tzell Travel Group , New York , New York
Thorny transportation
" One node perfectly refuses to ride in a ignominious machine – they always want a dark - grim Mercedes . This pose so many challenge . Sometimes , they have to settle for silver .
" I get a call at 3 am to engage a whirlybird from Zurich Airport to St. Moritz . I had a driver set to push them , but at the last minute , they were not in the humour to labour the two and a half hour . I had one hour and 30 moment to mastermind this . With the help of a slayer inter-group communication , I was able to get this done in less than 20 min . I sleep with Switzerland – they are so organized . " –Kim Reicherter , Tzell Travel Group , New York , New York
" I really had a customer ask for a passenger vehicle tour from Dallas to Hawaii . I told them that the bridgework from the West Coast to the island was not yet complete . " –Elaine Goad , Travel Leaders , Tyler , Texas
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" We had clients bespeak that the bride be ' abduct ' before her wedding and be ' rescued ' by the groom . "
Travel agent, babysitter. Same diff.
" Our guest was traveling on a mellow - end sail with another couple who booked with a different agency . The eventide before loss , the other duo secernate our clients they may have to cancel due to their babysitter canceling . Our guest said , ' No problem , my travelling agentive role loves Thomas Kyd . I ’m sure she will babysit . '
" Our client call our change of location factor , and the broker agreed . The Thomas Kid and the parent have sex our agent . They even feed us their collective news report and future vacation business . That was 20 years ago . Our travel federal agent babysat the children when the parents traveled for many years , until the children were former enough to stay alone . " –Jan Stanczak , Travel Leaders , O’Fallon , Missouri
An overnight at Iwo Jima
" Another good one was a request for an nightlong stay on Iwo Jima . While the island is a military theme and does not allow nightlong check , we arranged a spell with a specialist society that only does historic military sites . They acquire the nostalgic veterinarian on a tour and he stay overnight on the boat . " –Michelle Weller , Travel Leaders , Houston , Texas
An insanely spoiled dog
" One guest has a very special terrier . We had to coiffure a secret dinner for the cad on the island of Torcello ( near Venice , Italy ) . The dog dined on gnocchi . For the same guest , we had to arrange a private child’s play for the dog in the Bahamas . The picnic was just for the dog and its owner . " –Kara Bebell and Harlan deBell , Tzell Travel Group , New York , NY
Plan my bathroom breaks
" I had a family that I reserve to Disney , and she wanted me to plan their daily itinerary . When I say day by day , I mean that she also require me to put the times they are to get up and get to the jalopy diaphragm . She wanted me to put in at least four bath break a 24-hour interval while in the parks . Yes , bathroom breaks – permit 15 minutes per break . suppose what ? I did , and she loved it . She emailed me and said the trip was the best one yet . " –Tammy Ellingson , Travel Leaders , Maple Grove , Minnesota
Please hold my money until the apocalypse
" I have a unique client that used to ask us to entertain her money for her stumble until she resolve where she wanted to go next . She did n’t desire the political science and did n’t desire to put the money in the banking concern . One day she came in and say that she would like to get her money back , as she had been distinguish that the end of time was near . I did as she asked , but prompt her that I was fairly sure she could n’t take it with her . Since we ’re still here , she still come and books her trips with me . " –Judy Richardson , Travel Leaders , Plano , Texas
And, finally, the Ballad of Grandma’s Chair
" I had multigenerational clients traveling to Mexico . The grandparents were traveling out of the body politic for the first time and had many misgiving . About two weeks prior to departure , the gran wanted to ensure that she had a professorship , like a reclining La - Z - Boy - style chair , in her room , so she could kip pose up , or she was going to cancel . cancel this trip-up was not an option for the minor and grandkids , so they turned to me .
" I reached an awing manager at the resort . She had us take a photo of the chair that we wanted / call for , so she could get an idea of what their needs were . Once we sent her the photo , she proceed to go around the entire refuge herself , demand pictures of every chair they had , from the beach lounge chairs , pool electric chair , hot seat in restaurants , third house , disco , everything . She emailed them all to me , and articulate that they could put any of these chairs into their room , and would do anything to make them well-situated .
" One of the beach chairs was the professorship of choice .
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" Along with the president being in their room upon arrival , the entire staff receive them , asked if they demand anything else , brought up extra pillow , and extended much beloved to this total family . They tell me a story of a prole that was clean the pool expanse , saw this grandma coming down , realise her with her penury , and helped take out an umbrella table over to her so she was comfortable .
" These were not difficult clients of mine at all , but this request was so strong , it could have cost them the trip . The grandma was so impressed with the military service , she vowed she would actually yield someday . And I hope they do . " –Melissa Gutting , Travel Leaders , River Falls , Wisconsin
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