READERS’ LIVES YOUR STORIES


ABOUT OUR SPONSORS in association with


Travel Weekly Cover Stars 2018 is run in association with headline sponsor Visit California, and travel partners American Airlines and British Airways.


SARAH’S SALES TIPS


TIP 1


TIP 2


TIP 3


Sell California’s other activities: There’s zip wires, wine-tasting, sailing and horse riding.


Suggest a self-drive in a convertible: Two weeks is ideal and self-drive is easy outside LA.


Don’t rule out October- December: The weather is good and hotel rates and fares are lower.


Q. Where was your photoshoot and what did you wear? A. Mine was in Santa Cruz on the beach, in front of the big dipper. Journeys à la Carte and Aito tour operators work closely with Young Ideas, a local boutique fashion store, and they were kind enough to give me a selection of outfits to wear. The Michael Kors dress seemed appropriate for the shoot on the beach.


Q. What was your highlight of the trip? A. You must visit the farmers’ market at San Luis Obispo. It was incredible. There was a real buzz about it.


trip had never ridden a horse before, but they put her at her ease.


Q. Then it was off to Santa Cruz. What did you get up to there? A. We went down the boardwalk, which made me feel nostalgic for Blackpool, because of the sights, the smells and the rides. In the evening, we had a sunset beach barbecue with a live band.


Q. How have California sales gone since your trip? A. It has definitely been a boost to our office. Since I returned, we’ve done about 20-30 bookings to California and I have encouraged colleagues to do training about the destination. We really bonded as a group on the trip and plan to meet up again soon. We were sad about the forest fires, but as a travel agent you can help clients who might be affected and rearrange their travel.


Sarah on…the star-spangled state I loved California. I was star-struck. It’s been on my bucket list since childhood, thanks to all the movies I watched growing up. At the Sunset Tower Hotel, we saw Jennifer Aniston and Bill Murray. Jennifer was a few tables away and we also saw her in the foyer as she was waiting to be collected. One of the girls on the trip spoke to her in the ladies. Cycling down Rodeo Drive, we saw the stars’ houses. You see it in films, so it was surreal to do that. I felt like a star. We stopped at the iconic Hollywood sign for an amazing group photograph, then we went to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where celebrities have their stars on the pavement. At TCL Chinese Theatre, I had a photo taken of me as I put my hands in Marilyn Monroe’s handprint – that’s my most ‘liked’ picture on Facebook.


 Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism: massholiday.co.uk


 Brand USA: discoveramerica.com  Virgin Holidays: vhols4agents.co.uk  Simon Shopping Destinations: simon.com/travel


8 in association with 13 December 2018travelweekly.co.uk41


in association with in association with


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80