KERRISDALE CRUISE & VACATION TRAVEL

Without a doubt, the ability to travel freely is one of the things people have missed most during the pandemic. Nimet Jessa is the owner of CWT Vacations - Kerrisdale Cruise & Vacation Travel. She has worked diligently to serve her clients throughout the pandemic and is pleased to report that people are eager to travel. She has seen a noticeable increase in bookings for 2022-2023.

If you don’t recognize the company’s name, it recently changed from Carlson Wagonlit Travel Kerrisdale, however, the professional travel agents that clients have counted on over the years remain in the same location and are ready to make your holiday dreams come true. The office is conveniently situated on West 41st Avenue near Elm Park with free street parking nearby.

The office has been a Kerrisdale fixture for over 30 years and is now the only full-service agency in the area. They continue to serve clients during the COVID-19 restrictions. During the pandemic, they have been bombarded with calls from travellers who have never used an adviser and now require assistance. While some people use online booking sites, complex cancellation policies can arise, and travellers may face difficulties reaching a human to assist them.

The agency is a proud member of Virtuoso, the world’s most powerful luxury travel network. Booking your travel through CWT Vacations means you will receive exclusive travel services and products that are not accessible on your own or through other travel agencies. They make sure your travel experience is extraordinary from start to finish. You can also redeem and earn RBC points when you book your vacation.

The agents are multi-generational travel specialists. This includes everything from off the beaten track adventures to family milestone getaways. Cathy Ali has been a familiar face in Kerrisdale for the last 25 years. She recently joined the agency and specializes in luxury customized vacation experiences, small ship cruises, group tours and destination weddings. Meeta Mayer has over 30 years of experience and is able to service every request from cruises to river cruises, air tickets, tours, and customized itineraries.

Their goal is to create fun-filled memorable vacations that range from ocean cruises to river cruises, luxury train trips, sun vacations, custom-designed travel and more! Whatever your budget, they are there to help create an amazing travel experience.

Why do you need a travel agent when you can go online and book it all yourself? Quite simply, Nimet’s professional team can see the big picture. They are well informed about foreign borders and the rules and regulations that come with international travel including which countries require visas. They are also knowledgeable about an assortment of travel insurance policies to ensure your specific needs are met. Flights continue to be a large part of their business and people are welcome to walk in to make a booking.

If you arrange your own trip, you run the risk of not having anyone to consult should a problem arise when you are away from home, whereas Kerrisdale Cruise & Vacation Travel’s clients can relax; they call Nimet and her team and are promptly put in touch with international contacts and suppliers. They are there from the start of your journey until you arrive back home.

Travel has always been Nimet’s passion. Originally from Tanzania, Nimet remembers a time when there were no organized safari tours in her homeland. Adventures of this type appealed to her and led her to this profession.

Her bucket list includes experiencing luxury rail journeys such as the Venice Simplon-Orient- Express (the longest passenger train in Europe), journeying across Russia on Trans-Siberian Rail (one of the world's most legendary railways), and travelling aboard Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa which stretches across South Africa and Botswana, touches Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls, and crosses Zambia to Tanzania.

Closer to home, popular experience vacations include travelling up north to view the Northern Lights or visiting Canadian destinations that people travel from far and wide to admire such as Banff or Lake Louise.

Although the pandemic has altered the way we travel, there are ways to prepare and have a wonderful trip. The agency sells COVID medical insurance through Manulife and quarantine is covered. Nimet points out, “This coverage is not expensive.”

Some of the top destinations are currently Hawaii and Mexico. “The tourism industry is being very accommodating. Staff at five-star resorts are doubled vaccinated and travellers need a PCR test to return home,” says Nimet.

The greatest reward of Nimet’s occupation is helping to create amazing memories. She says, “I am here because of my passion. We are here to help.”

Will this be the year you book a French river cruise or cruise the Mississippi River from Memphis to New Orleans? Perhaps you would like to visit family and friends that you haven’t seen in Eastern Canada since the pandemic began? Whatever you desire, Kerrisdale Cruise & Vacation Travel will assist in making your trip effortless.

CWT Vacations - Kerrisdale Cruise & Travel Vacations

2496 W 41st Avenue Vancouver, BC V6M 2A7 Telephone 604-264-0552 www.cwtvacationskerrisdale.com