With so much on your plate, let Personal Escape Travel handle all the details of your destination wedding or honeymoon.
(Photo courtesy of Sandals)
Whether you’re looking to plan a destination wedding, your dream honeymoon or maybe a trip to celebrate your anniversary, Susan Blume, CTC and her team at Personal Escape Travel, a BOLI Preferred Vendor, is ready to make all of your wedding and travel dreams come true. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, Blume is certified travel counselor with Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and she can’t wait to plan your next adventure.
Travel Passion
Blume says she developed a passion for travel while working part-time for a travel agency owned by her father’s friend. That passion developed further when her husband was a US Army ranger stationed in Germany. Having been in the travel industry for a few years, Blume was hired by the military in Germany. “I worked in the recreation, morale and welfare department,” says Blume. “I would plan day trips and tours for the military personnel and their families. We would travel to Prague and other parts of Germany, and take pottery or glass blowing tours.” Blume says it was a lot of work, but she loved not only being able to be a travel agent, but also traveling overseas.
When they moved back to the US for her husband’s next tour of duty, Blume got culinary training and took on the role of assistant manager at the Officers’ Club. “I would oversee daily operations, as well as events for over 500 guests,” she says. “I would plan the military balls. It was an interesting time.”
(Photo courtesy of Personal Escape Travel)
Back to Her Roots
While Blume worked for the military, she never lost sight of her roots and ran a travel agency as a side business. When her husband got out of the military, they moved back to New York and she established Personal Escape Travel in 1998. “I wanted to combine my travel agent background with my culinary background, that’s why I specialize in destination weddings and honeymoons.” Blume says her experience in the military has helped her to understand how to coordinate a lot of moving pieces and make everyone happy – something she focuses on while planning destination weddings. “I love talking to new people, and there’s no shortage of things in travel – from where to go and what you want to experience.”
From Dream to Reality
If you’re looking to plan a destination wedding and you’re not sure where to start, Blume says she can help you from the minute you contact her to the minute you come back from your honeymoon. Since she is Sandals certified, she knows exactly which resorts would be perfect for everyone, and which resorts can accommodate children or even special needs guests. Blume takes her time learning about what you like and what you don’t like. She’ll also take the time to learn not just about you but about your guests. “I need to figure out which resort will best fit not just the wants of the couple but the needs of the entire wedding,” says Blume. “For example, if grandma is in a wheelchair, I can recommend which resorts will be easier for her to get around.”
Once she learns all of the details for the wedding, she’ll make suggestions on which resort would be best for her couples. She’ll then connect with the resorts’ wedding coordinators to find out availability and pricing. “What I love most is, I’m not just planning a wedding for my couples,” she says. “I’m helping to plan the whole experience – from a welcome party or rehearsal dinner to the reception and next day brunch.” But there’s more! Blume will also coordinate rooms for all of your guests, keep track of your contracts, and “I’ll even jump in and help with invitations and favors.” She adds that she not only works with resorts but also local bridal vendors to coordinate things like tuxedo rentals.
(Photo courtesy of Sandals)
The Perfect Paradise
The best part about having Blume help plan your dream wedding or honeymoon? Her recommendations are based on personal experience. She has traveled to many of the Sandals resorts and can confidently say that you’ll be getting five-star service. If you’ll be having children or teenagers at your wedding, she knows that Beaches Turks and Caicos can make guests of all ages entertained. “It’s also a short flight and offers 21 restaurants on site as well as a water park,” she says. If you’re having an adults-only wedding, she recommends a newer resort on Saint Vincent or Curacao. “Both islands are beautiful and the resorts are filled with white sand beaches and plenty of activities,” she says.
When it comes to a honeymoon, Blume says she’ll also find out what’s important for the couple. “Do they want more activities and adventure? Or do they just want to relax?” she says. All of the resorts offer snorkeling and water sports. However, she says if scuba diving is your thing, then Beaches Turks and Caicos or Saint Lucia are great. Saint Lucia has three Sandals properties, and offers exchange privileges for guests, which means they can visit any of the resorts and take advantage of all of the restaurants and amenities. “Saint Lucia is one of my favorite islands!” she says. “Not only are the Sandals resorts beautiful, but the island itself offers so much adventure – from volcano tours to mud baths and hot springs, it’s perfect for everyone.”
(Photo courtesy of Sandals)
Plan Ahead and Relax
Whether you’re planning your destination wedding or honeymoon, Blume says it’s best to start planning sooner rather than later. “Just like wedding venues on Long Island, destination wedding resorts book up quickly,” she says. “In fact, I have couples that are booked all the way into 2027.” For honeymooners, she reminds couples that the more popular rooms – like the over-the-water bungalows or private rondovals – sell out up to a year in advance.
The biggest piece of advice Blume has for her couples, “Trust me! Once you book with me, let me do the rest. Let me worry about your guests. Let me worry about those small details. I take on all of the stress so you don’t have to. Everything will be perfect.”
(Photo courtesy of Personal Escape Travel)