We aren’t sure this review will really paint the picture of what you will receive when choosing to use Stacey McGarr as your travel advisor. However, we found it important to attempt to tell you how we have found her services to be above and beyond. Stacey is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to travel. She listens to her clients and definitely wants to make their travels as seamless and enjoyable as possible. It truly is her desire to make sure all your travel wants and needs are met. You will find her very organized, giving attention to detail, and keeping you up to date on your responsibilities leading up to your travel date. Should you have travel issues, you definitely want her knowledge of how to smoothly work through any problems. She is not your typical nine-to-five, Monday through Friday girl when it comes to your travels. We have always found her to be available via phone call, text message, or email when planning our travels. She has always kept us informed when she will not be immediately available. With this being said, she attempts to make sure all of your travel arrangements and questions/needs are answered/met before she needs to be out of quick reach.
Just a few examples to back up my words about Stacey…
I have Celiac disease, which is a severe allergy to gluten. As we began working with Stacey on our travels, I stressed to her the seriousness of my issue, and it isn’t just a dietary choice. When we have reached each of our travel destinations, I have been immediately assured that they were well aware of my allergy and found that each staff member/restaurant we would encounter on property was well aware due to Stacey’s persistence in making sure I didn’t encounter any issues. It was typical at each of our travel destinations where a chef would step out of the kitchen to discuss my allergy and assure me that they would take precautions to meet my needs. Often ask if there was something on a menu that maybe sounded intriguing to me in order to possibly tweak it to prepare it gluten-free. When staying on Ritz Carlton properties, we typically choose a Club Level room. I was always accommodated with food separate from what was out for all the guests. Due to Stacey’s attention to my allergy and her communication with resorts, I have had zero issues when it came to eating. Since I’m writing about my allergy, let me take a minute here to give you a small glimpse into how she can help with travel issues. It’s more than food that contains gluten. On a trip we took to St Lucia, I made the decision to use bug spray (which was provided in the bathroom), and unfortunately, it contained gluten and I became extremely ill. It was at the end of our trip, and being so weak, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to navigate the long walks at the airports. In true Stacey fashion, she had been making sure to check on us during our trip and giving us reminders of transfers and flight times. When I told her my issue, she immediately offered to arrange for any transport help I might need to navigate the airports. She stayed in touch constantly during our travel back to the US and afterwards to make sure I bounced back to my usual self.
On a lighter and a little humorous note, when we travel, the hubby doesn’t want to lift a finger. He wants to be on a true vacation. In our earlier planning travels with Stacey, he sorta joked and said, “I want a bell to ring and somebody meets my request.” Yes, she heard him loud and clear. She’s made sure we’ve had private butlers in several locations, and in St Lucia, he was even handed a private phone to reach the butler. He was told his every need could be met with the touch of a button on the phone 24/7. If you find yourself traveling to St Lucia, Stacey is very knowledgeable about this location and can really give great tips on things to do based on your likes and dislikes. We stayed at Sugar Beach in a private residence nestled between the Pitons. Beautiful and lush property with an AMAZING staff. Numerous activities to choose from for both the adventurous and the sightseeing travelers.
When the hubby retired at the end of the year, he knew he would need to get away quickly in order not to grieve work. Stacey gave us plenty of great ideas, but we knew he just needed to relax. Therefore, we decided on a repeat trip to the Turks and Caicos. When we were there previously, the Ritz-Carlton was just coming out of the ground. We knew, being Ritz-Carlton people, we would want to go back. It certainly didn’t disappoint, and we can’t wait to return. Perfect spot to unwind. The waters are crystal clear, and the property at the Ritz-Carlton is very well kept and beautiful. We were met by an extremely kind and accommodating staff. By the time we left, they felt like family. They were hugging us goodbye and giving us sweet little gifts to take home. They even packed me a gluten-free meal for the plane ride home. Once again, this was a trip where Stacey stayed in touch from the beginning to the end to make sure all things were as planned. Quick note on how much she desires for your travels to be pleasant. We live in the south, and we had just experienced an unusual snowfall. We were sitting on the tarmac in Atlanta, and I got a text from Stacey as to why we were backed up (she does have some inside connections in case you fly Delta ), and to let us know our driver and the hotel staff would be aware of our late arrival. We did arrive late in the day, but the driver and hotel staff were all patiently waiting with smiles on their faces.
After a bittersweet loss in our family this past year, Stacey helped us plan a trip to Napa Valley since we had to scratch Italy for our anniversary. Unforgettable trip … once again, she helped with the perfect resort. We stayed at one of the Auberge properties north of Napa. Oh my goodness, the property was gorgeous. The staff was above and beyond. Food was fresh, clean, and delicious. Stacey arranged for the most AMAZING picnic in one of their gardens for our anniversary. We were blown away! So much more to do in Napa than visiting wineries. Although we did enjoy a few. Definitely recommend the hot air balloon ride at sunrise. It’s truly the only way to see the true beauty of the region. Stacey arranged for us to have a private driver each day in case we wanted to have a glass of wine or two. Michael, with Napa Valley tours, went out of his way to make sure we experienced as much as possible. He was a great listener and heard my love for cooking. He suggested a visit to Olivier for some olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting. OH MY…I shipped so many amazing oils and vinegars back home and have since done a reorder with them.
While being in the process of planning a lengthy trip to Alaska, we casually threw out a mention of taking a quick/short trip to the Cayman Islands. While being in the process of planning Alaska for us, Stacey jumped into tropical mode, and the next thing we knew, we were sitting under a private cabana with a private butler on the beautiful beach at the Ritz-Carlton Cayman Islands. The hubby couldn’t have been happier with his every need being met by our butler, Persoll. If you’re traveling to the Cayman Islands, a must-do is the Jet Cars. We felt like we were teenagers as we zoomed across the Caribbean in the cutest little sports cars.
I’m sure I’ve bored you by now, but I must touch on Stacey’s attention to helping with travel issues. Unfortunately, my husband suffered an injury and we had to cancel our trip to Alaska for now. Stacey did EVERYTHING she could do on her end in order to start the cancellation process. She then guided me through the process of filing a claim with our travel insurance. BTW, we highly recommend you don’t skimp on that purchase when planning a trip. With Stacey’s help, the process went smoothly, and we had reimbursements in what we thought was a very timely manner.
I know I’ve said a lot, but if you want a travel advisor who will be with you from planning your perfect journey until you are safely home, then Stacey McGarr is your girl! We look forward to where she sends us next!