Crossing items off your bucket list can seem daunting, especially when those items include major travel plans.
Fortunately, Sue and Bruce Mitchell, of Cruise Planners/Red Mountain Travel, have plenty of experience helping clients book their perfect trip.
According to Sue, who has 30 years of experience in the industry, trips may be much more doable than people expect, especially with the help of an experienced agent.
She gets excited when helping match people to the trip they want. Sue also enjoys researching new places to which she and Bruce have not yet traveled.
“We are always thinking of new places to go,” Sue said. “Every time we visit somewhere new, we learn something.”
However, it seems there are few places Sue and Bruce haven’t been.
Here’s what Bruce said about their most recent trip:
On our latest journey, our friends, George and Lynn Boyd, accompanied us. Our goal was to visit some out-of-the-way places and, of course, check some items off our bucket list. We accomplished both.
Our trip started with an 11-day stay in Malaga, Spain, located on the spectacular Costa Del Sol. There were 150 kilometers of beautiful beaches and great golf courses. We toured Benalmadena, a boardwalk with delightful restaurants and many colorful vendors. We visited Frigilina, a mountain village, with whitewashed buildings overlooking a beautiful valley.
Another day, we drove to Mijas, a quaint mountain village, with whitewashed buildings overlooking the Costa Del Sol. We also toured The Rock of Gilbraltor, a British military post guarding the 15-mile Straits between Europe and Africa. The rock is virtually hollowed out with caves and tunnels. Wild monkeys are everywhere.
Our next stop was Nerja, a delightful seaside village, where the third largest cave system in the world is located. Our final stop was to the mountain village of Ronda, which overlooks a gorge, giving us an incredible view. The city also is the site of the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain.
We then left the Costa Del Sol to embark on a seven-day cruise of the Mediterranean. We took a tour of Mount Vesuvius, which included a strenuous walk to the top, which overlooks the caldera with its steamy vents. We then visited the famous city of Pompeii, which was destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, in 76 AD. Our next tour was a visit to Civita Bagnoregio, a dying city on an eroding hilltop. A quarter-mile long footbridge is the only way it can be reached. The city only has six full-time residents. We also toured the ancient Roman walled city of Toscani.
Our next stop was Le Cinque Terre, where we saw five coastal hamlets, on the west coast of the Italian Riviera. They either cling to the cliff face, or are concealed in miniature inlets, allowing them to perfectly blend in with the unique and unspoiled landscape.
The next day, we stopped at Cannes, where the renowned film festival occurs, and toured Monte Carlo, with the barriers and signage still in place from the Grand Prix, which had just occurred the week before. While we were there, we visited the famous Place du Casino. The view of the marina, from the city, was a sailor’s dream, with its assemblage of yachts.
Next, we traveled to Monaco, where we went to the top of the rock, and viewed the palace of Prince Albert. The changing of the guard was spectacular. What photo opportunities!
Our last stop was Palma, Mallorca. We took a memorable bicycle tour of historic Old Town.
We finished our vacation with a three-day stay in the beautiful city of Barcelona. We walked along La Rambla, with its artisans and vendors. We took a casual walk through the marina, and, of course, enjoyed the splendid beaches.
Now is an ideal time to explore Europe, due to the current value of the euro, which makes traveling there more affordable.
“Europe is very affordable, and it was especially enjoyable traveling with friends,” Bruce said. “We would love to help plan our neighbors’ bucket list trips, whether it is off the beaten path, or one of the Seven Wonders of the World.”
Next, Bruce and Sue will be traveling to Paris. They then will take a trip on Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ship, the Escape’s inaugural repositioning cruise, from Southampton to Miami.
“Cruise Planners caters to anyone who likes to travel, and we are eager to help our friends and neighbors in the Red Mountain area and the Northeast Valley,” Bruce said.
Those interested can visit redmountaintravel.com to submit inquiries, view virtual brochures, see current specials, and sign up for the Cruise Planners/Red Mountain Travel e-newsletter.
Visit www.redmountaintravel.com, or call (480) 396-8084. Sue also can be reached via email at smitchell@cruiseplanners.com.