With all the busyness and stress we encounter these days, wouldn’t it be nice to sit back and let someone plan a relaxing vacation for you, taking care of the details and leaving you to just pack and enjoy it?  Well, let your friendly and knowledgeable AAA Travel Agent take the hassle out of planning your next trip!  Meet Jo Fortuny, from our Headquarters location, who would love to help you get away from it all.

Tell us about your background as a travel agent.
Several years ago, a group of friends wanted to travel somewhere, and  I suggested Albuquerque for the Balloon Festival.  I arranged airfare, hotel and transportation to the Festival.  Everyone had a blast.  Next they wanted to go to Las Vegas and you know the rest of the story.  After arranging these trips, I thought about how I really enjoyed seeing smiles on everyone face and that maybe I could be a travel agent. That was over 14 years ago.  Since then I’ve worked as a front line agent and Manager for an agency before coming to AAA Travel.      

You recently went on a cruise to the Southern Caribbean.  Please share about your experience.
I cruised on the Carnival Victory, departing out of San Juan.  The Caribbean Islands are just as beautiful as the pictures portray.  Each Island offers its own special “something” as part of the Caribbean Island chain.   St. Thomas has the Walk Under the Sea.  Dominica offers shore excursions that include whale watching.  In fact, Dominica is the only country in the world where the Sperm Whale resides all year long.  Little Green Monkeys reside on Barbados.  Are they green?  Yes, they have a green cast and are very special little creatures that love to eat, anytime.  St. Lucia offers among other things a Zipline that is just fun.  Flying through the rain forest attached to a secure steel cable is a truly wonderful experience.  Antigua and St. Kitts offer scenic rail tours as well as a variety of shopping to satisfy everyone.  

What is one of your favorite or most memorable trips and why?
I would have to say my cruise last year to Italy.  It was a 12 day Mediterranean Cruise which was a tremendous opportunity to visit history.  A pre-night in Rome was a great way to begin and included a visit to Vatican City.  Once our cruise began it was a world of beauty and history.  In Barcelona we traveled by rail to the Monastery in Montserrat.  In Sicily we walked on an active volcano on Mt. Etna.  In Livorno we were able to walk up the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  St. Mark’s Square in Venice offers music, shopping, and of course a Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal.   It was truly amazing.

What tips or hints do you like to share with your clients to make their travel easier?
Nothing complicated…relax, enjoy and let your travel agent do the work for you.  Just have fun!