Page 27 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – December 2020/January 2021

Travel Spotlight:
John Kusek
We sat down with Manager of the AAA Hudson Valley Travel Agency, John, to learn more about him and his time in the Travel Industry.
AAA Every Day: How many years have you been working in Travel?
John Kusek: Hard to believe, but I am going on 22 years in the travel industry. It feels like I just went to school for Travel and Tourism not too long ago. One of the best parts of working in Travel is growing your relationships with your clients, from booking their honeymoon to anniversary trips and onto their family getaways.
AAA: Of all the places near and far that you’ve ever been lucky enough to visit, what was your favorite?
JK: It’s a tough decision for me, but I would say Cartagena, Columbia. Exploring the walled city and the nearby islands made for some unbelievable memories – and let’s not forget about its amazing food.
AAA: How has the industry changed since 2020’s pandemic?
JK: The pandemic has changed the industry forever
in my opinion. I think people look at travel differently now. Just look at business travel – some people were on the road four to five days a week and that’s been replaced by Zoom calls. 2020 has definitely made people appreciate vacations as well. We are seeing this reflected in our strong bookings for 2021 and 2022.
Shutterstock: Florida Stock
AAA: What advice do you have for people looking to travel in 2021?
JK: The best advice that I can offer is to book early and to purchase “cancel for anytime” travel protection. Booking early will secure your reservation and travel protection will give you the peace of mind that you can cancel if you choose not to go.
AAA: How about any places on your bucket list?
JK: How much time do we have? I actually have a pretty big bucket list, but I would say on the top of my list would be the Galapagos Islands with a post-tour in Peru to
see Machu Picchu; Greece (cruising the islands); and an African safari.
AAA: We heard you like fine dining. What is your suggested itinerary for fellow foodies?
JK: I do love eating different foods and trying different wines. People think you have to travel the world to have great food but in my opinion, we have some of the best options right here in our area. Don’t be afraid to try new things (like I tell my kids), you really don’t know if you like something unless you try it. In a sense, this is very similar to world travel.
AAA: Any more pro tips for our readers?
JK: Don’t wait to take a vacation, especially as a family. It’s true that we are all busy with work, school and sports but the memories and pictures of a great vacation will last a lifetime. Some of the best vacation photos I have are from giving my kids the camera — you would be amazed by what they capture.
To book your next vacation with John, call 518-426-1000, ext. 2132, or email jkusek@aaahv.com.
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