AAA Traveler - Fall 2019 - 16

AGENT SPOTLIGHT

Bucket Lists Managed
BY ALEX HIGGINS

Whether she's planning a 10-month journey around the world for a single traveler or
booking a Walt Disney World vacation for an extended family, Susan Perry loves her job. As
a AAA Travel Agent in the Military Cutoff Road branch in Wilmington, North Carolina,
she's been crafting vacations for clients since before there was a world wide web.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A TRAVEL AGENT?

When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I thought
about being a school teacher or working in a bank but then I got interested in travel
and tourism. When I started working in the industry in 1983, we had to hand write
every airline ticket. The first office I worked in didn't even have a computer. I
joined AAA in April 2003.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I like building relationships with clients. I really love it when clients come
in the office after a trip and tell me how wonderful it was. They're always so
excited about it. I also like the challenge - every day is different. You never
know what's going to happen. There's always something changing in travel.
HOW DO YOU KEEP UP WITH CHANGING TRENDS IN TRAVEL?

I read travel magazines in the evening and travel as much as I possibly
can. I also take vendor classes and attend webinars. I ask a lot of questions
when booking a trip for a client. I ask questions about things I'd want to
know if I was going on the trip.
WHAT SORT OF TRAVEL DO YOU BOOK THE MOST?

It varies. I book a lot of river cruises and quite a few ocean cruises. Also, a lot of
FIT - foreign independent travel. River cruises are my favorites. I book a lot of river
cruises because I've been on a number of Viking and Uniworld cruises. My vacation
this year was taking my granddaughter to Walt Disney World. Because I had just been, it
was easier to help a client book a vacation package to Disney for their extended family.
WHAT'S THE MOST CHALLENGING TRIP YOU'VE EVER BOOKED?

Many years ago, I planned a young man's trip around the world - ten months
of travel. The visas were one of the trickiest parts, but I figured everything out. It was
definitely challenging, but I love a challenge.
WHERE ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO TRAVEL?

WHAT'S ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST?

Oh, many, many places. I'd love to visit Norway and the Baltics. I think I'd put
Iceland on the list too. I'd rather visit places that have beautiful, stunning scenery than
spend time in a big city.
Susan Perry

AAA WILMINGTON, N.C.

VISIT YOUR LOCAL AAA OFFICE

CALL 1-800-750-5386

CLICK AAA.COM/TRAVEL

TUMBLESTON PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS

I've taken river cruises on both the Rhine and Danube rivers - they're always quite
popular and a lot of fun. I've also taken a river cruise through Bordeaux, France. I've
been very fortunate to travel to many destinations in Europe. I also plan a domestic road
trip for my family every year. Two places in Europe that stand out as favorites for me are
Croatia and Italy. They are amazing destinations to visit. Knowing about a destination
lets me really nail down details when my clients want to vacation somewhere I've been.

http://www.AAA.COM/TRAVEL

AAA Traveler - Fall 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Fall 2019