Pictured above: Wendy with her family on an Alaskan cruise on the Celebrity Solstice celebrating her mom’s 80th birthday. L to R: Josh Carter, Stefani Carter, Barbara Matles (mom), Hal Matles, Wendy, John Sandridge, Pierce Martin, Grant Martin, Brittany Martin, Sherri Fisher, Gabby Fisher, Steve Fisher.
The travel industry is booming again, so book that dream vacation NOW
By Alicia Wanek
Wendy Sandridge’s title may be Luxury Travel Specialist with TravelStore, but talking with her you realize she sees the real essence of her career is to build relationships and create memories. Travel is just the avenue by which couples draw closer, families spend quality time, and friends celebrate milestones together – hopefully amidst a backdrop of beautiful scenery, amazing adventures, and delicious food. Sandridge loves being the one to facilitate it all. Her suggestion is that we all work more on collecting memories and less on collecting things.
“You don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring. What better way to celebrate life than to see the world?”
-Wendy Sandridge
Thankfully, Sandridge, aka “Travel Mom Wendy,” is back to full speed doing what she loves after the travel industry, like so many others, took a big hit during Covid. She admits, however, that much of the industry is still working to get back to its pre-pandemic capacity. “…Now more than ever travel is so dynamic,” Wendy says, and, “The rules of travel have changed.” Continued flight cancellations, understaffed facilities, restrictions, and ever-changing requirements for documentation and vaccination have made the importance of working with an expert in the field like Wendy more important than ever before. “We can navigate all of that,” Wendy assures. “We do everything we can to create the best experiences for our clients,” she shares.
No matter what a client’s ideal vacation looks like, Wendy can make it happen. Her goal is always to make it “seamless from beginning to end, whether the clients want adventure or relaxation – or a little of both.” She’s booked unique trips to the same destination like Costa Rica that include zip-lining through the jungle and snorkeling or that feature sunset cruises and poolside cabanas. And she’s planned trips that start under the tree canopy and end on the beach. Additionally, she can often secure perks at hotels, arrange special meals, or set up excursions at key destinations. “It’s always fun and exciting whether I’m working with someone new or someone I’ve worked with for decades. I get excited for what they’re doing and where they’re going.”
“Wendy has planned so many vacations for us that I just wouldn’t travel any other way!
– Julie Rinker
She thinks of EVERYTHING!”
Wendy’s personal knowledge of so many of the destinations allows her to help tailor experiences for each client. It’s all about the relationships she builds with her clients together with the relationships she’s forged with travel partners in different destinations around the world. “I’m always trying to connect with travel partners and reach out to colleagues to get immersed in the properties,” she says. If Wendy hasn’t personally visited the destination, she has colleagues who are destination specialists in every country to whom she can reach out. TravelStore’s tagline is, “We’ve been where you want to go,” and that experience is what allows Wendy to create personalized itineraries for each guest.
“Recently I took a fabulous trip to French Polynesia with my friend Kim,” she shares. Wendy and Kim flew from DFW through San Francisco to get to Papeete, the capital city of French Polynesia, where they spent a night at the Hilton Hotel Tahiti before beginning their yachting experience. “We sailed through all the islands on Windstar Cruises’ Wind Spirit, which is a great way to see the area and experience the culture. I have incredible memories of our special beach and spa day in Bora Bora at the St. Regis getting pampered,” she says.
“Wendy is the best because she travels the same trips and knows every detail, even the best cabins on the ship and the best rooms in a hotel.”
– Katia Gordon
Don’t let the recent travel stories on the news keep you from making those travel plans. The key is to have one point of contact for your entire trip. Erica Ramos, a member of Wendy’s team, reminds travelers, “If we do it all, we can make changes and make it seamless for the traveler.” Because of the increased delays and cancellations, or unfortunately sometimes illness, Wendy says, “We strongly recommend travel insurance.” Securing your trip is more important than ever before, and as long as her team has made all the arrangements, they can coordinate the entire trip to adapt to anything that comes up. Recently, a group of clients were meeting at a destination to board a yacht for a week-long voyage. One couple’s flight delay was going to make them late for launch. Wendy was able to coordinate with the ship while keeping an eye on flight status, so everyone could depart together.
Post-pandemic we all seem to appreciate life a little more than we did before, and Wendy reminds us, “You don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring.” She suggests, “What better way to celebrate life than to see the world?” With a consultation, she can help you determine the best vacation around the world for you and your travel companions. The options are truly limitless. Wendy’s favorite quote is, “The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page.” Where’s your next chapter going to be?
Here are some comments from Wendy’s clients on recent vacations she has planned for them:
“Wendy has planned so many vacations for us that I just wouldn’t travel any other way! She thinks of EVERYTHING! One trip she planned for us was to Italy with my daughter, who was studying abroad. It had to be condensed because of our time constraints, and she seamlessly pulled together a beautiful trip. I had never been to Europe before, and she had every airline and train ticket at our fingertips, so we didn’t have to think about anything. We traveled from the Amalfi coast up to gorgeous Cinque Terre, where we stayed in the coolest hotel that was at the top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. There was a special very small car that would take you to it! We also attended a private cooking class in a family-owned restaurant that we still talk about! Then, on to Florence, where we had a few days before my daughter started school. We were able to visit the Uffizi Museum with our “skip the line” passes, as well as many restaurants and other sites that Wendy recommended.
Other trips she has planned include Italy with my college friends for our 60th birthdays, Spain with our other daughter, and Hawaii for our second honeymoon.”
“Wendy is so personable, has great connections around the world, and truly is a great friend and travel planner!”
–Julie Rinker
“Our trip to Tuscany, planned by Wendy, for wine tasting was a wonderful experience that offered us the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful wine regions in Italy. We enjoyed the stunning landscapes of rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves while sampling some of the world’s finest wines…such as Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano,” says Rick Hubbard. “The key thing is the experience Wendy brings. She knows the places and the people firsthand because she has been many times and she is able to tap into that experience.”
“Wendy has booked my last four cruises, and I don’t know what we’d do without her. Wendy is there for you 100 percent all throughout the trip, where other travel agents we used in the past just handled the booking and then were never seen or heard from again. She is the best because she travels the same trips and knows every detail, even the best cabins on the ship and the best rooms in a hotel,” says Katia Gordon. “Wendy is there for you 100 percent all throughout the trip.”
“Mark and I celebrated his retirement as we took an amazing Caribbean vacation with SeaDream 2. A huge shout out to #travelmomWendy who organized everything! Travel with her and 20 new friends (in our group) made it an unforgettable experience! We visited St. Martin, Neves, St. Kitts, St. Barths and more, reaching a new island each day. Seven days, seven ports…. Food and service was top-notch! Definitely looking forward to Wendy’s next recommendation!” – DeeDee Wise
“We were blessed to share Charles’ 60th birthday at The Montague in Kapalua Bay. We celebrated in the Cliff House over the water offering magnificent views, live music and a private chef. We danced with our grandchildren and made lasting memories,” said Elizabeth Daigle. “Traveling with our family is always filled with love, adventures, and the unexpected,” says Elizabeth Daigle. Shown here at Kapalua Bay, L to R: Emerson Daigle, Chase Daigle, Victoria Daigle, Harrison Daigle, Nick Daigle, Charles Daigle, Elizabeth Daigle, Jordan Coleman, Carson Coleman, Blake Coleman, Charlie Coleman, Olivia Daigle, Chloe Daigle, and Alex Daigle.
“We appreciate Wendy’s hard work ensuring all details were executed to perfection.”
-Elizabeth Daigle
Editor’s Note: If you are ready to turn your vacation dreams into reality, contact Wendy Sandridge, Independent Affiliate Agent for TravelStore, at 972-491-1560 or by email at travelmomwendy@gmail.com.
