Life before food allergic children included my shameless pride that I could be packed and ready to travel anywhere in the world in less than 30 minutes. Post food allergy diagnosis, I can be ready in 2 weeks and that is domestic travel only. Alas, my world has changed for the better. Fabulous travel news came recently. My favorite travel agent is back and with a food allergy and asthma awareness gleam in her eye!
My little gift and best travel secret from the food allergy and asthma travel gods is named Phyllis Harris, a 25 year travel agent veteran who just so happens to be a food allergy and asthma savvy grandmother (by no means does she look like a grandma either). She owns and operates Concierge at Your Door and her goal is to lower our travel stress and go to bat for us as she helps flush out safe environments. She has no problem discussing turn down service options and asking for mini-bars to be removed from hotel rooms to help keep our little food allergic children safe.
Note: to contact Travel Agent Phyllis: 305-439-4409 or email her at pharris001@aol.com
Phyllis explained her philosophy to me and why she wants to help alleviate the agitation we sometimes deal with when booking our vacations: she experiences it first hand with her own family and knows how to make thing less stressful! When her daughter travels overseas, Phyllis is on hand to take care of her grandchildren and to manage their food allergies and asthma.
Apparently, travel agents are returning onto the scene, as I read in my recent issue of The New York Times asked this question: Are Travel Agents Back. They explained that travelers have been burned on some internet deals and also want some specialized travel arrangements, such as wine tours, etc. On April 20th, Trip Advisor? The article explained the increase in hiring of Travel Agents and how folk are saving $$$ by using one!
How it works when using a travel agent:
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- pick up the phone and call Phyllis (or your favorite travel agent)
- explain your allergy need (food, environment or asthma triggers).
- Ask if you will be charged a fee. Phyllis Harris does NOT charge a fee.
- Provide travel details (see below for check list)
- Within a short time period (I can confirm it is very short with Phyllis) the travel agent calls you with several options based on your criteria.
- You pack your bags.
Why I am thrilled Phyllis has opened up her travel agent doors again…
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- Value time saved-four hours is a lot of time when you are short on time!
- Phyllis cuts to the chase and even offered me opinions she had gathered from Trip Advisor and her many personal and professional travel experiences.
- She also had insider tips on room views for us, etc. that I could not find on the websites I reviewed.
- I also discovered that many of the online deals were not deals. When I called the property I found deeper discounts and package deals that included tickets to local attractions!
Below is my checklist for calling a travel Agent. You can also download my Travel Agent checklist right here!
[unordered_list style=”green-dot”]- Arrival Date:
- Departure Date:
- City/Location traveling from:
- Destination City/location:
- Number of rooms:
- Bed configuration (King, 2 queens, etc.):
- View (city, mountain, ocean, etc.):
- Kitchen, kitchenette, microwave, refrigerator:
- Non-smoking
- Pets:
- Handicap Accessible
- Special needs:
- Laundry
- Room Service or restaurant on-site
- Pool
- Concierge
- Price
- Names of all travelers
- Number in Party and ages of children
One of the hardest things I find about managing both life threatening food allergies and asthma is talking to others. I hate to be the one that might be perceived as demanding, pushing or for asking too much. What I now know, fourteen years later, is that honest, clear information presented with kindness works!..