Best Travel Agents In Chicago
By Meredith Lyons
Where do you even find a travel agent these days when most modern trips are booked online though cheap ticket retailers or through deals like Groupon? A travel agent may not be the first thing you think of anymore when planning a trip, but what if you're planning the trip of a lifetime through multiple countries and have specific goals in mind but no idea where to start? Alternately, what if you travel often and suddenly and find that the constant sifting through websites is not worth the time it takes? A good travel agent may be an indispensable resource for getting the most out of your trip, your time and your money.
Shirley Webster
Shama Travel
8010 N. Gross Point Road
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 966-7788
www.shamatravel.com
Shirley Webster can sell you the world. She'll work with any budget on any worldwide destination. If you're looking to book a honeymoon and you'd like your trip to include multiple destinations including specific sites or activities, she can put your trip together. If you're looking for an exotic, once-in-a-lifetime getaway or perhaps you're wanting to travel with a large group and the red tape overwhelms you, she can untangle your logistical snares. She is also on the executive board of the ASTA Midwest (The American Society of Travel Agents), a mark of respect in the travel industry and a sign of quality for her customers. Webster personally travels to one international destination a year to learn a new area. While she is there, she makes a point to meet with local suppliers in order to enhance the experience of her clients' trips.
Beth Carlsson
Best Travel
Elk Grove Reservations Center
60 Biesterfield Road
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 981-0080 ext. 264
www.besttravel.com
Beth Carlsson is an ace at corporate travel. She specializes in international travel, especially Asian markets. She's used to dealing with high-pressure situations and going straight to business clients or their administrative assistants. Carlsson has been a corporate travel agent for 21 years, working with major companies, and her experience shows. She loves the logistics of travel and stays calm under the pressure of deadlines. She can be reached also through her direct email at bcarlsson@besttravel.com.
Related: Best Honeymoon Suites In Chicago
Mary E. Ray
AAA Naperville Office
670 S. Route 59
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 420-0541
www.aaa.com
Mary Ray is a certified travel agent specializing in creating custom trip itineraries. Hawaiian travel is one of her particular specialties as well as food and wine-related getaways. She's also great at small ship cruises including River Cruises. You'll never feel as if you're on your own with Ray as your agent. Her attention to detail and responsiveness will help you feel secure in the knowledge of your itinerary every step of the way. She can also be reached through her direct email at meray@aaachicago.com.
Kay Light
B&B Travel
1130 S. Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60193
(630) 980-5800
www.bbtravelinc.com
Kay Light has been with B&B Travel for 26 years and has done some extensive traveling herself, increasing her knowledge of foreign destinations by living abroad and is eager to share all of her experiences with her clients. Radio listeners may recognize her from her time on the air with Johnny B as "Ask the Travel Agent." Her specialty is vacation travel and she loves to put together everything from honeymoons and adventure vacations to meetings and events. Once she does a trip for her clients, they tend to come back to her again and again for all of their travel needs.
Related: What To Do For Houseplants While You're On Vacation
Meredith Lyons is an actor, competitive fighter and fitness instructor in Chicago who also owns an amazing cat named Jake. Meredith has been writing on Examiner as the Chicago Martial Arts Examiner since 2008. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
