Destination Spotlight-Barbados

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Barbados, often called the “Little England” of the Caribbean, blends the finer elements of British tradition with the warmth of island hospitality. Barbados truly has something for everyone with beaches, rolling countryside, charming villages, and old plantations. It is also known as a diver and surfer’s paradise.
Barbados is sophisticated yet casual, warm and friendly, and always charming. It has something for everyone from expensive to affordable.

Barbados is a tropical island that has sun-filled days and balmy nights. Those that explore Barbados fall in love with this land and return again and again. The average annual temperature ranges from 70°F–87°F.

Barbados may not have any dolphins, but they still have an experience of a lifetime as you can swim with the turtles! It’s something I so desperately want to do. Barbados is the home to a healthy population of hawksbill and leatherback turtles. The turtles once were endangered by being over fished. However, these great creatures are now protected and monitored throughout the island.

Turtles are sociable and tend to stay in the same area following steady routines. They can be seen playing and feeding along the inshore reefs. There are certain monitored areas where they have become accustomed to humans and are very tame. You can swim with them as they feed along the coral, and one of the best ways to do this is by snorkeling.

There are programs in place such as the Barbados Sea Turtle Project to help recover the marine turtle populations. This is all done through training, education, and public awareness. Without such projects, we would not have the opportunity to enjoy these truly amazing creatures.

Fun Fact: Driving in Barbados, as on many of the Caribbean Islands, is on the left side of the road. Before you rent a car, please make sure you are comfortable driving this way. However, precautions aren’t only for drivers. Pedestrians must also remember to look right as well as left when crossing the street!.-Travel Impressions


Andrea Ward is an independent travel consultant of Boomerang Escapes, who is based in Wisconsin.

She has been planning vacation escapes for the company since 2013 and specializes in Caribbean Destinations. Her primary focus is on the all-inclusive vacation experience for adult or family getaways for individuals and small groups. Sandals and AMResorts are among the specialist certificates she holds.


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Andrea WardDestination Spotlight-Barbados
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Who You Gonna Call?

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” If there is something strange in your neighborhood, Who you gonna call?…. If there is something weird and it don’t look good, Who you gonna call? ….”

Ghostbusters??? No. When weather goes awry, you want to have a travel agent on your side.

Now that I have that song stuck in your head, let me explain it’s relevance. I couldn’t resist as I watched the new 2016 release of Ghostbusters with Melissa McCarthy this snowy weekend. Which of course as you know takes place in NYC and is practically my backyard now. Anyway, unexpected resurgence of winter wreaked havoc on the northeast particularly for those flying.

Let me share a personal story, as the VIP client that I had to get out of here on Friday was my very own daughter who needed to be in Memphis by end of night in order to make a 6am flight out of Memphis on Saturday. She had plans to travel with some other very important clients aka friends of mine for Spring Break to Punta Cana. Here is how the 24hrs prior to her departure played out…

As is customary with the impending threat of weather of this nature, the airlines will often issue a waiver to passengers allowing them to make flight changes without any extra fees to fly in a specified date window either before or after the weather event. Such a notice arrived by email on the evening of the 8th. While I did look at options and considered changing her, she had a prior acting commitment that really was not an event she needed to miss. Anyway, I continued to monitor the weather conditions and flight statuses with the airlines because as it so happened, I happened to have several clients departing over the weekend for their vacations. The forecasters weren’t predicting much and just expected some slushy road conditions for the morning commute Friday. Then it happened, 8pm Thursday night I got an update on my mobile app that traffic control decided to cancel the flight. We were on the NJ Transit when the alert came through. I didn’t want to waste any time and I immediately got on my cell to United to get her on another flight. The evening direct flight that I wanted her on was fully booked, so oddly enough I had to go with a morning flight. Surprisingly, it was nearly at the same time as her original flight, but now required a connection. I found this to be strange until the United employee said the cancellation had come from traffic control and had to do with where the inbound plane for the flight was coming from not the snow coming to our area. I had her rebooked before our train arrived home. All was good.

Thursday evening, I was sure to set my volume up for any air alerts as besides my daughter I had other clients departing. We become like a doctor on call, especially on the days are clients are flying. I woke several times checking my phone just to make sure nothing had come through. We were up at 5am and the roads were dry. The preceding rain before snow had not come and snow was still not expected until later in the morning. I breathed a small sigh of relief.

We made our way to the airport with relatively no traffic and flight was still scheduled on-time. The airport was a bustle of people and the TSA security line stretched the length of the terminal. My daughter had pre-check and was good to go, but I had to get a gate pass and go through the regular line in order to meet her on the other side. (her first time flying alone out of Newark) It had begun snowing by now, yet other than flights that had been cancelled the night before by traffic control, all seemed to be moving along as scheduled…until she was on the plane.

The snow decided to increase its pace and visibility dropped significantly. I didn’t dare leave the airport until I knew her plane was in the air. I sat by a screen with phone in hand and waited. They had pulled from the gate, but then a delay came up of 15mins. I wasn’t worried yet, but knew now her connection in Houston was going to be tight. My app finally said departed and just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, my daughter sent a text. “We haven’t taken off. We are still sitting.” I continued to wait and wait. Now knowing that any further delay would make her miss her connection in Houston. She text in panic “Mom, what do I do? I’m going to miss my flight.” I told her not to worry. Once I knew the flight was in the air, I would take care of it. Of course at this point, I was praying please don’t come back to the gate. The flight took off 50 minutes late and I immediately got on the phone with United once again. I had already checked the schedule of Houston to Memphis flights for Friday afternoon and got her rebooked while she was in transit. Once the agent was done handling my request it immediately uploaded the new information into the United mobile app. I had my daughter download it on her phone as well before flying. Once she arrived in Houston, her new schedule and mobile boarding pass were ready and waiting for her.
6:30pm my time I got the notice flight had landed in Memphis. As mom and travel agent I could finally relax as she and her bags had reached their destination. The remainder of my passengers departing were spared the delays that we had here in the northeast and I can report everyone is happily in destination. You see as your travel agent, I am only a call away. I am already monitoring the situation and thinking of possible solutions before the events occur. And while, I can’t spare you the inconvenience, I can help you keep the stress at bay. You are never alone with an agent on your side.

So, who you gonna call?


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Lisa RossmeisslWho You Gonna Call?
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Hawaii’s Hiking Trails

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Whether you are a novice hiker or avid adventurist, the diverse landscapes and environments of the Hawaiian Islands make for the perfect escape into paradise. From breathtaking views from the top of Leahi (aka Diamond Head State Monument), one of Hawaii’s most iconic natural landmarks, to embarking on a journey through the majesty of Haleakala National Park, visitors to the Islands will uncover the Aloha State’s undeniable beauty and adventure wheriever they go.

On the island of Hawaii, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park offers more than 10 official hiking trails, ranging from easy to difficult.

Showcasing everything from coastal views to lush rainforests and lava landscapes, the trails invite visitors to activate all their senses and indulge in the beauty of nature. This year, for the first time since 2013, an active lava flow from the park’s Kilauea volcano reached the ocean. Various activities partners on the island offer the rare opportunity to embark on a hike to the lava flow (called 61G) to witness its power firsthand. Though hikes to the flow are guided, they are strenuous. Interested participants are encouraged to check with a local tour operator prior to participating.

Visitors to Maui always acknowledge the beauty of Haleakala National Park. Home to numerous hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty, a visit to the park at sunrise or sunset offers endless photo opportunities and picture-perfect moments. Travelers in search of tropical indulgence are encouraged to check out the Iao Needle Lookout Trail, a paved walking trail meandering through an ethnobotanical garden with a scenic viewpoint of Kukaemoku (the towering natural lava remnant known as Iao Needle).l

Affectionately referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon on the island of Kauai is a definite bucket list item for those visiting the island. Visitors are encouraged to explore the less-traveled vistas of Waimea Canyon State Park from the Kukui Trail (which descends 2,000 feet to the canyon floor) or the Iliau Nature Loop Trail.

Travelers looking for a casual hike are encouraged to trek the Diamond Head Summit Trail on the island of Oahu. With paved footing and handrails located throughout the trail, beginning hikers and clients seeking a more easygoing hike will enjoy their escape into nature and stunning views of the island’s south shore from the top of the natural landmark. Those up for the challenge of a moderately advanced trail should seek out the Waahila Ridge Trail, which rewards with views of native forest and birdlife.

No matter your fitness or hiking level, there is a path for you to find your adventure on in Hawaii.

Content/ photo credit: Hawaii Tourism
Want to read more on GREAT hiking places? Here is an article from Boot Bomb, https://bootbomb.com/info/hiking-trails/top-50-long-distance-hiking-trails-usa


Lisa Rossmeissl is the owner of Boomerang Escapes, a home-based agency located in Old Bridge, New Jersey with agents in TN, MS, and WI. 

She has been a professional travel consultant since 2008 and specializes in Australia and the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, and Cook Islands are among the specialist certificates she holds.  Her agency’s focus is on creating custom itineraries with their client’s wants, desires, and budgets in mind.  She and her planners believe in getting to know the traveler to ensure they have a vacation to remember.  With each planner specializing in a different market area, Boomerang Escapes can offer a wide variety of leisure vacation planning.

Lisa RossmeisslHawaii’s Hiking Trails
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