One of the best parts of being a travel advisor is getting to travel. Yes, we love seeing new places, experiencing beautiful resorts and enjoying some time away, but when we travel, we are also working.
There is only so much you can learn about a destination or resort by looking at photos online, reading descriptions and researching reviews. Actually being there gives us an entirely different perspective.
We recently returned from Grenada, where we spent six nights at Sandals Grenada. This was our first time visiting the island, and we absolutely loved it. But we didn’t spend the entire week sitting by the pool with a drink in our hands!
While we were there, we toured several other resorts on the island. We walked the properties, saw different room categories, checked out the pools and beaches, learned about the restaurants and amenities, and talked with resort staff.
And yes, that sometimes means climbing a lot of steps and walking around resorts in 90-degree heat!
Why do we do it?
Because pictures don’t tell the whole story.
A resort can look amazing online, but when we visit in person, we notice things that may never show up in a brochure. Is the resort very hilly? How far are certain rooms from the beach? Is the beach calm or better suited for someone who enjoys waves? Does the resort feel lively or quiet? Is it somewhere we would recommend for a honeymoon, a family vacation, a group of friends or someone who simply wants to relax?
Those details matter.
We also learn that two beautiful resorts on the same island can offer completely different experiences. One might be perfect for a couple celebrating an anniversary, while another may be better for a multigenerational family. A small boutique resort might be someone’s idea of paradise while another traveler would be bored after two days.
That’s why we don’t believe there is one “best” resort or one “best” destination.
There is only the one that’s best for you.
Traveling also allows us to experience the destination beyond the resort. We learn what the airport arrival is like, how long transfers actually feel, what the roads are like, what there is to do off property and what makes that particular island or destination special.
And sometimes we learn things we weren’t expecting.
There have been destinations we liked more than we thought we would, resorts that looked completely different in person than they did online, and places that immediately made us think of certain clients because we knew they would love them.
Firsthand experience is incredibly valuable in this business, but we also know that we can’t personally visit every resort, cruise ship, city and country in the world. That’s where research, training and our relationships with suppliers and other travel professionals become just as important.
Travel is constantly changing, which means we’re constantly learning.
So when you see us posting from a beautiful beach, touring a cruise ship or walking through another resort, we are definitely enjoying the experience. But we’re also paying attention.
We’re taking pictures. We’re asking questions. We’re looking at rooms. We’re checking out beaches. We’re noticing locations. We’re thinking about which of our clients would love it and which ones probably wouldn’t.
Because when we travel, we’re not just making our own memories.
We’re gathering the knowledge that helps us plan yours.
JZW Travel Blog 