by Classic Travel | Sep 22, 2020 | USA
By Pamela Sievers The smell of fresh cedar. The brilliance of the sun’s reflection off the water. A gentle coolness against my face reminding me that I’m at an altitude of 6800 feet. This is what I think of when someone mentions Lake Tahoe. I’m not a skier, golfer or...With over 30 years in the travel industry, Denise holds a multitude of certifications and designations. She is a Sandals Certified specialist, Jamaica and Hawaii Destination Specialist, and has completed the Disney Master Program to name a few. Denise loves to travel and experience different cultures, Ireland being her favorite destination. In her travels to Ireland, Denise has been mesmerized by the Cliffs of Mohr, kissed the blarney stone, and pub crawling through Dublin. One of her favorite travel memories was her first visit to the Haunted Mansion and receiving a kiss from Eeyore! Her favorite past time is reading and she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Denise uses her love of travel and years of experience to create dream vacations for her clients.
Hannah graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication. Her love of travel bloomed when she took her dream trip to Athens, Greece to see ancient mythological ruins. Her goal is to use her communication skills and travel knowledge to assist others in unlocking the dream vacation they have in their mind and turning it into an even better reality. Growing up she ventured to many places throughout the United States including Washington D.C., New Orleans, Minneapolis, and the Outer Banks, amongst many other cities and states. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, spending time with friends and family, watching the newest binge worthy series, and researching her next trip. Hannah is excited to bring your dream vacation to life!
Madison graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Event Management. Helping share her love of travel with others by planning custom adventures has always been a dream of hers. Growing up, Madison went on countless road trips with her mom to New York City, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, Bradenton FL, and Nashville, just to name a few. Her love for travel has only grown over the years. As an adult, some of her favorite adventures have been hiking all throughout spectacular Alaska, cruising the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea, relaxing in the warm Florida sun, and fueling her imagination at Disney and Universal Studios. In her free time, you can find her reading, hiking, playing with her pets, spending time with friends and family, and planning her next incredible travel adventure!
As a former radio broadcaster, Mike wanted to own a business that was sales and service oriented. He was looking for something exciting, fun, and a good conversation starter; the end result was International Tours! Mike merged his business with Classic Travel in 2016 and with it brought many years of knowledge and travel experience. Mike has led groups all over the world. On one of several trips to Ireland he organized an impromptu pub crawl through Dublin taking his group to some of his favorite pubs. It is a great way to beat the jet lag and prevent his group from sleeping the first day away! Mike believes that Travel is an opportunity to explore and learn more about yourself, but more importantly it is a chance to learn about other people, cultures, traditions, and to see and appreciate God’s creation!
Since 1980, Joy Thrun has been assisting clients in making their travel dreams come true. Along with her husband Tom and the rest of the Classic Travel staff, she has sent clients to virtually every destination imaginable.
Being located just next door to Michigan State University, Joy has had the opportunity to work with several university groups including the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Michigan State University Alumni Association. She has also planned and escorted group travel for the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, the Michigan Dental Association, and the Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology.
Joy herself has just about seen it all. She has been to Alaska, Hawaii, many of the contingent United States, Africa, Australia, and numerous countries in Central American and Europe. Some of her favorite travel experiences include shark diving and wine tasting in South Africa, visiting Machu Picchu at sunrise, and Elephant trekking in Thailand. She doesn’t have just one specialty, she knows it all!
Joy believes that travel is one of the most fulfilling aspects of life and getting expert advice can make a big difference in your travel experience. With a large clientele interested in luxury leisure travel, Joy makes sure her guests all receive the VIP treatment that has come to be expected of any Classic Traveler.
Tamara’s travel interest sparked when she took a trip to India and Nepal with her grandmother when she was 16. Tamara started her travel career as a stewardess and has been assisting clients realize their travel dreams for over 35 years. As a certified Sandals Specialist and Jamaica Specialist, Tamara can plan the ultimate honeymoon or romance getaway. Jamaica happens to be one of her favorite destinations, primarily for the beautiful beaches and relaxing atmosphere. A few other top destinations for Tamara include Las Vegas for the food, shows and entertainment, and overall fun. Tamara loves being a travel consultant and has worked with many wonderful clients to plan their dream vacations. Whether you are looking for a pristine beach to relieve stress or a fun filled adventure, Tamara is ready to assist!
Tanya believes that families that travel together stay together and her family practices just that. She loves sharing her joy of travel with her family and taking them to destinations where they can learn about different cultures. Aside from traveling to new places, Tanya enjoys movies and baking. With over 30 years of experience, Tanya’s heart is with Italy. As a Certified Travel Consultant and with a degree in travel & tourism, Tanya will create the perfect itinerary whether you are looking for a getaway for you and your spouse or plan on taking the whole family.
Katie Conway has always held a passion for travel and helping others create travel memories that will last a lifetime. Katie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Business Management from Michigan State University and is extremely well-versed in many different types of travel. Her destination specialties include Western Europe, The Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Domestic Travel. Some of her favorite travel memories include walking the streets of Rome and the first time she saw the Cliffs of Moher. With an Irish heritage herself, there is no question why Ireland is Katie’s favorite destination. She loves everything from the food, culture and beautiful landscapes. When Katie is not hand-crafting vacations for her clients, she loves writing, walking, watching movies, spending time with friends and family and of course, traveling.