In 2007 Kalsey McCall, former Editor of 435South Magazine, interviewed me for a story about consumer space travel. She wrote a kick-ass article (I’m totally impartial, I swear!) and Paul Verslius created an amazing full-page photo of me that ran with the story. During the interview I used a phrase describing Great Getaways’ mission: We provide the “luxury of experience.” Then, later that year, at our 15^th Birthday Bash, we gave each guest a print of a door in Budapest photographed and signed by the artist, Richard V. Stern. Below the photo I penned, “At Great Getaways we open the door to the luxury of experience.”

Now, I realize that “luxury” has become a 4-letter word; however, I don’t think that the luxury of experience will ever go out of style. Do you want to see Paris or experience Paris—you get what I mean, right?

And, why, exactly, am I running on about the luxury of EXPERIENCE? Because yesterday I happened upon a site for a new start-up media company, whose focus is travel and, lo and behold, one of their taglines is the “luxury of experience.”—-GRRRR! I wonder if I could have trademarked that???? Too late now, I guess!

Barbara King  |  Co-President  |  greatgetaways.travel  |  913.338.2244  |  800.546.TRIP  |  Virtuoso Member

Please consider the environment before printing this email Please consider the environment before printing this email

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of someone else.” — Judy Garland

On Web pro News I watched a video about StumbleUpon.com.  I’ve used the SU when I want to find new and fresh sites and sometimes just because I was bored. Now I just learned how SU can increase “hits” to websites! The interviewee proclaimed that StumbleUpon “always been around “—-for a couple of years or so.” In today’s world of rapid change (that sometimes translates into positive results and sometimes not), two years is a very long time.

In truth, 2 years can be a long time in the world of travel, too. How do we stay current on the world? Does the delightful couple we met in Ravello still own that delicious trattoria—and is it still delicious? Is Andrei still conducting walking tours in Florence? Truth be told, I cannot and choose not to even try to stay current on every change, opening or closing that occurs in the world. I have a few areas of interest and each of us at Great Getaways focuses on his/her passion. I firmly believe in Jack of all trades, master of none. AND—even for my areas of expertise (Africa, Antarctica, Galapagos, and Space—with a splash of China and India), I don’t rely on my knowledge alone!

Because of our membership in Virtuoso, a dynamic group of the top travel advisors in the world, I have representatives in over 70 countries. So, looking for the best vegetarian restaurant in Katmandu? No problem, my friend, Pawan, can not only tell me which is the best, he can tell me the chef’s name!

span