Get To Know Your Travel Agent - Carol's 2025 Part 1
- Carol McKee
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
It's another opportunity for you to get to know your travel agent.
As we look back on another incredible year of helping you create unforgettable travel experiences, I wanted to share a bit of my own journey with you. You trust me to guide your trips and recommend destinations and properties based on real, firsthand experience—and that trust means everything to me. It’s built on the fact that I’m out there experiencing these places, ships, and hotels first hand.
This year was especially travel-filled, with a mix of educational trips and personal adventures, so I’m breaking my year in review into two parts. In this first installment, I’ll cover my travels from January through May, from luxury resorts to river and ocean cruises and a few true bucket-list destinations. My hope is that these stories give you insight into not just where I went, but how these experiences shape the way I plan travel for you.
January 2025:
Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale and Celebrity Ascent
We kicked off 2025 the way I think every year should start—with an easy mix of relaxation and fun. We spent three nights at the Four Seasons Resort Fort Lauderdale, a luxury beach escape that delivers without any pretense. The resort feels serene and effortless, offering an oceanfront experience just steps from the beach without the usual chaos. The food was consistently excellent, from casual poolside bites to polished evening dining, and the service struck that perfect balance of attentive without being intrusive. Add in a calming spa, beautiful pool areas, and that signature Four Seasons attention to detail, and it’s the kind of place where you can truly unwind—whether you’re starting a trip or wrapping one up.
After three days of calm at the Four Seasons, we shifted gears aboard the Celebrity Ascent, one of Celebrity’s newest Edge-class ships—and the change in energy couldn’t have been better. Designed for travelers who love variety, Ascent delivered, especially when it came to dining. From elevated classics in the main dining room to standouts like Le Voyage, Tuscan Restaurant, and Fine Cut Steakhouse, every venue felt distinct. The Magic Carpet lived up to the hype, transforming into unique dining spaces, while Raw on 5 and Cyprus kept things fresh throughout the sailing. Paired together, the serene luxury of the Four Seasons and the vibrant, choice-filled experience onboard Ascent showed how thoughtfully combined experiences can elevate a single trip.
March 2025: Avalon Waterways Poetry II on the Rhône River
In March, I combined two things I love—mentoring travel advisors and experiencing river cruising firsthand. As a Mentor for Gifted Travel Network, I support advisors year-round, and this trip let me do that while sailing France’s Rhône River aboard Avalon Waterways’ Poetry II.
Even with chilly early-March weather, the experience reinforced why river cruising is such a special way to see Europe. The Poetry II, part of Avalon’s Suite Ship fleet, is designed to maximize space and views, with Panorama Suites that feature floor-to-ceiling windows and an Open-Air Balcony. With just 138 passengers, the ship feels intimate without ever feeling cramped, and the relaxed public spaces—and attentive staff who quickly learn your preferences—made it easy to truly settle in and enoy the journey.
Our stops included Lyon, Avignon, and my favorite, Arles. There's something about Arles that captures my heart every time—the Roman architecture, the light that inspired Van Gogh, and the authentic Provençal feel that hasn't been overrun by tourism.
Lyon offered incredible food and wine (as you'd expect from France's gastronomic capital), while Avignon's papal history and stunning Palace of the Popes provided that cultural depth I always seek in travel. Despite the chilly weather, being able to mix business with pleasure and experience the Rhône through both a business lens and a traveler's perspective reminded me why these educational opportunities matter.
After the conference on the ship, I extended my time in France with a multi-day tour of the south with Titanium Tours, a European-based company I work with regularly for my clients' trips to France, Portugal, and Spain. This partnership allows me to offer clients fully customized European itineraries with a level of local expertise and on-the-ground support that makes all the difference. Titanium Tours specializes in creating bespoke experiences that go beyond the typical tourist stops, and their knowledge of regional hotels, restaurants, and guides means my clients get access to experiences they simply couldn't find on their own. One of our days was a tour of wineries in the region that was both educational and delicious!
Spending this time touring the south of France with them reinforced why I trust them with my clients' European journeys—they understand that luxury isn't just about five-star hotels, it's about authentic, meaningful experiences delivered seamlessly. A highlight for me was a truffle hunt in Provence in which I was able to partner with a couple of very smart truffle dogs who found a very large and beautiful black truffle!
May 2025: Jordan & Egypt with AmaWaterways
In May, we took a trip to Jordan and Egypt with AmaWaterways, an opportunity that came about as a reward for being a top-performing travel agency in our larger organization. It's one thing to sell these destinations to clients, and quite another to experience them firsthand with a river cruise line I trust.
Our time in Jordan split between Amman and Petra. We truly loved Jordan. This country with its philosophy of religious tolerance is a standout in this part of the world where you can hear church bells ring at the same time you hear the call to pray for the local mosque.
Our time in Jordan ended with a candlelight visit to Petra—an experience no photo can capture. Walking through the narrow Siq and emerging to see the Treasury glowing with hundreds of flickering candles against rose-colored stone felt almost otherworldly. Petra by candlelight, paired with a Bedouin music concert in front of the Treasury (yes, the Raiders of the Lost Ark backdrop), created a moment that’s stayed with us ever since. It’s experiences like this that remind me why I do what I do—helping clients access moments that go far beyond sightseeing.
We then went on to Egypt, which kicked off with a visit to Cairo where a highlight was our time at the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum. This long-awaited museum, located near the Giza Pyramids, is a masterpiece in its own right and houses the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the world. The museum's modern design and state-of-the-art displays bring 5,000 years of history to life in a way the old Egyptian Museum simply couldn't.
Now featuring a huge volume of Egyptian artifacts including the complete Tutankhamun collection in one place—including pieces never before displayed publicly— this museum is extraordinary. The museum does an exceptional job of providing context and storytelling around the artifacts, making ancient Egypt accessible without dumbing it down. For anyone planning a trip to Egypt, this museum is now an absolute must, and it sets the stage beautifully for everything else you'll see in the country.
Then we were off to Luxor to sail on the Nile River with AmaWaterways aboard their ship the AmaDara, experiencing the Nile in a way that gives a unique perspective and is truly what river cruising is all about. Our guide was a PhD Egyptologist, and having that level of expertise made every temple, every tomb, and every hieroglyph come alive in ways a standard tour guide simply couldn't match.
The sites we visited—Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple—were as fascinating to learn about as they were to see. A standout was Abu Simbel, where the colossal statues of Ramses II are even more awe-inspiring in person, especially knowing the temples were relocated in the 1960s to save them from flooding. Throughout the journey, I was struck by how seamlessly AmaWaterways managed the complexities of Egypt—from logistics and security to exceptional guides and shore excursions. In a destination where details truly matter, having experienced local expertise makes all the difference, and AmaWaterways delivered.
May 2025 (Con't): South Africa – Luxury and Wildlife
In May into June, we embarked on a trip that had been on my bucket list for years—South Africa. Our journey began with a flight to Dubai for an overnight stop, and even that brief layover reminded me why this city has become such a strategic hub for international travel. Stopping in Dubai for overnight break before the long push to South Africa made the journey feel manageable rather than exhausting. For clients planning trips to Africa, Australia, or Southeast Asia, I often recommend considering Dubai as a stopover point—it transforms a grueling travel day into something far more civilized.
From there, we were on to South Africa, where our first stay was in Franschhoek at La Residence, and this property set the bar extraordinarily high for everything that followed. La Residence is a boutique hotel that feels more like a private estate, with just 11 suites and 5 villas set on 30 acres of vineyards and gardens in the heart of the Cape Winelands.
Each suite is individually decorated with rich fabrics and stunning art, and the level of personalized service matches that uniqueness. The food was exceptional, showcasing the best of South African cuisine and local wines. What makes La Residence special is how it manages to feel both grand and genuinely welcoming, like you're staying at the country home of an extraordinarily well-traveled friend with impeccable taste. It’s proximity to the wineries of the Franschhoek region made for a fun couple of days of wine tasting.
Our next stop was Cape Town, where we stayed at the Silo Hotel, a property unlike anything else I've experienced. Built into a grain silo elevator at the V&A Waterfront, the hotel is a masterpiece of contemporary design with pillow-shaped windows that bulge out from the original concrete structure, offering dramatic views of Table Mountain, the harbor, or the city. The interiors are bold and artistic—this isn't a hotel for someone who wants traditional elegance, but for those who appreciate modern design and want to stay somewhere truly distinctive. Watching the sunset over Table Mountain from the rooftop bar was one of those pinch-me moments that makes travel so rewarding.
From the urban energy of Cape Town, we moved to the coast and Birkenhead House in Hermanus, perched on the cliffs overlooking Walker Bay. This property is part of the Royal Portfolio collection and has just 11 suites, each with ocean views and private balconies where you can watch southern right whales that migrate through these waters. The house feels like staying in an elegant seaside residence with outstanding food focused on fresh seafood and local ingredients. What I loved most was how it manages to feel both luxurious and relaxed—you can dress up for dinner or come as you are, and either feels completely appropriate.
We then headed inland for the part of the trip I’d been anticipating most—a safari at Royal Malewane in the Greater Kruger region. Splitting our stay between the ultra-exclusive Waterside Camp and the main Malewane Lodge, we experienced exceptional luxury across the board. What truly sets Royal Malewane apart is the quality of everything: guiding, food, wine, and game viewing. This Big Five reserve delivered—we saw lions, leopards, elephants, Cape buffalo, and rhinos, often at incredibly close range. With guides and trackers who know the animals individually, encounters felt both thrilling and deeply respectful. Royal Malewane offers the kind of safari I recommend for once-in-a-lifetime journeys—where extraordinary wildlife, impeccable luxury, and expert guiding come together seamlessly.
Stay tuned for the second half of my 2025 in our next post!
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