As I settle in on my flight this morning  from JFK to Tampa for a short trip, I see that I have no screen in the seat back in front of me. What am I going to do for 2 hours? I could sleep...but I know that’s not really going to happen. Of course I didn’t bring the right headphones with me...Didn’t think that I would need them. So I’m sitting here thinking. Thinking about what fun lies ahead of me this weekend, thinking about my wonderful honeymoon couple that is leaving for safari tonight. Thinking about the wonderful clients that have traveled with my assistance this year and the destination wedding and honeymoon couples who will be celebrating their first married holidays.

It’s been a great year for me. Lots of learning... places that I’ve visited so that I can better serve my clients in the future, and planning for trips coming up. As a travel consultant, I feel that it is my responsibility to personally visit as many places as I can. Luckily for me, I have incredible travel agent friends who also travel and whose opinions I trust to fill in any blanks for me.

2019 has also seen the adoption of my baby elephant, Maktao. My beautiful Labrador, Lucy, turned lucky 13 and my beautiful daughter turned 30. Hmmm when did I get old enough to have a 30 year old....never mind...onto other musings.

2019 brought me back to the Northwest where I enjoyed incredible scenery, water, and a much more peaceful way of life. Hummingbirds were the favorite.....and a few breaching whales off the starboard side of the ship were a surprise addition. 

An extra trip to Jamaica reminded me what I love about the country and its people...and tasted my first jerk vegetables...and they were fantastic!

The Big Fake Wedding was my final wedding show of the year. It was a wonderful experience with so many interesting ideas to help me inspire upcoming brides and grooms into the future.

So...as I grab an extra bag of Cheez Its ( no, I shouldn’t, but they are so good and boredom will set in soon) and a cold drink, I will close this by wishing everyone a Happy Holidays and a Happy and Healthy New Year. I hope you travel well and often and that you travel with my assistance.

For those who aren’t planning travel yet...think about the places you’d like to visit and learn about them here. You never know when wanderlust will strike. 

Hugs,
Robin

The smell of suntan lotion… Santa giving out presents around the pool…Sunburned noses from days on the ski slopes… These are just some of the memories  from my childhood vacations many, many years ago and I cherish each and every one.
 
My name is Robin Shatzkin and I am a Concierge Travel Consultant. What does that mean? Why do I need a travel agent when everything is online? Why should I pay more to have someone else do what I can do myself? I didn’t know there still were travel agents around! Allow me to address your questions.
 
Can Waze find my office?
 
I don’t have a brick and mortar storefront. My office is wherever you need me to be….your kitchen, Panera, Dunkin Donuts, the parking lot at your child’s soccer practice, or on the phone while you are making dinner. I try to make myself available at your convenience so that we can be the most productive.
 
I can do it myself… 
 
Yes, many of the trips that you are looking for are available online. Sometimes I have special offers on packages or have access to bulk airfares that are not available to the public. I also have payment options that can make things easier for you. For example, a $200 per person deposit will hold your reservation with final payments due 30 days before your trip. This way you can take advantage of the best prices without having to come up with all the money at once. There are no hidden fees so it should not cost you more to book through me. 
 
Do you remember when your VCR used to flash 000?
 
Yes, unlike cassette tapes and printed encyclopedias, travel agents still exist. While many of you have been booking your trips successfully without one, there may have been a time when you had a problem. The website that booked your very inexpensive trip has strangers telling you that there is nothing that they can do. While I can’t fix everything, you will have my cell number, What’s App, email, etc. so that I am your person. I’ve been there…I’ve booked through those portals myself and they are great as long as you don’t deviate from the itinerary. You have kids, jobs, families…who doesn’t ever need to deviate?!
 
After 32 years in this community teaching Mommy and Me classes, directing Theater and running Special Events at a local day camp, working with hunger organizations and of course, travelling the world every chance I had, I understand the need to escape every now and then. My goal is to make your family’s vacation dreams come true. To help you plan that weekend getaway for just the grownups so that you are rested and refreshed upon your return. To create appropriate multi-generational vacations so that grandparents can experience the excitement of watching your kid’s faces when they see Mickey for the first time. To know that when you are traveling, a real person at home has your back.
 
The smell of suntan lotion and a winter suntan still bring back a flood of childhood memories for me. I look forward to helping make new memories for you and your family.
 
 

 
 

The smell of suntan lotion… Santa giving out presents around the pool…Sunburned noses from days on the ski slopes… These are just some of the memories  from my childhood vacations many, many years ago and I cherish each and every one.
 
My name is Robin Shatzkin and I am a Concierge Travel Consultant. What does that mean? Why do I need a travel agent when everything is online? Why should I pay more to have someone else do what I can do myself? I didn’t know there still were travel agents around! Allow me to address your questions.
 
Can Waze find my office?
 
I don’t have a brick and mortar storefront. My office is wherever you need me to be….your kitchen, Panera, Dunkin Donuts, the parking lot at your child’s soccer practice, or on the phone while you are making dinner. I try to make myself available at your convenience so that we can be the most productive.
 
I can do it myself… 
 
Yes, many of the trips that you are looking for are available online. Sometimes I have special offers on packages or have access to bulk airfares that are not available to the public. I also have payment options that can make things easier for you. For example, a $200 per person deposit will hold your reservation with final payments due 30 days before your trip. This way you can take advantage of the best prices without having to come up with all the money at once. There are no hidden fees so it should not cost you more to book through me. 
 
Do you remember when your VCR used to flash 000?
 
Yes, unlike cassette tapes and printed encyclopedias, travel agents still exist. While many of you have been booking your trips successfully without one, there may have been a time when you had a problem. The website that booked your very inexpensive trip has strangers telling you that there is nothing that they can do. While I can’t fix everything, you will have my cell number, What’s App, email, etc. so that I am your person. I’ve been there…I’ve booked through those portals myself and they are great as long as you don’t deviate from the itinerary. You have kids, jobs, families…who doesn’t ever need to deviate?!
 
After 32 years in this community teaching Mommy and Me classes, directing Theater and running Special Events at a local day camp, working with hunger organizations and of course, travelling the world every chance I had, I understand the need to escape every now and then. My goal is to make your family’s vacation dreams come true. To help you plan that weekend getaway for just the grownups so that you are rested and refreshed upon your return. To create appropriate multi-generational vacations so that grandparents can experience the excitement of watching your kid’s faces when they see Mickey for the first time. To know that when you are traveling, a real person at home has your back.
 
The smell of suntan lotion and a winter suntan still bring back a flood of childhood memories for me. I look forward to helping make new memories for you and your family.
 

 
 

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love animals. I've owned Alpacas, hedgehogs, dogs.. I love  manatees, dolphins, whales, birds... and now I've adopted an ELEPHANT! Meet Maktao - #THeBigMakTao - an orphaned baby elephant who lives in Nairobi with his friends and the wonderful people who take care of him.

You can follow his adventures and get updates on my Instagram, Facebook and his page.

There is so much information about weddings and honeymoons in the Long Island area. Where to get married, flowers, music, photography, wedding gowns, honeymoons...the list goes on and on. So, my team and I have decided to curate a group of exceptionally talented, experienced and passionate business owners who share a singular goal - to provide wedding couples with unique experiences.

"Engaged Long Island" was born from this passion. Our panel of experts - both female and male - are always on the look out for amazing vendors and unusual experiences so that couples can have a less stressful planning adventure. Our 1/2 hour shows promise to be entertaining, informative and always full of personalities and maybe some drama!

So join Robin,Rosa,Alexis,Nicole & Craig on the journey to be ENGAGED, Long Island!