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About Me
I began crafting dream itineraries for my clients in 1979, when I started my career in the travel industry as a travel agent. What started as a part-time gig in college became my lifelong passion. The travel industry has been very good to me, as I advanced my career working for travel agencies, tour operators, 10 years with a major airline and now 15 years with a reservation technology company. My first trip to Paris was in 1985, and while I was initially overwhelmed by the sheer size and range of travel discoveries, I have learned to navigate and appreciate the grand City of Light. Paris has no equal. But do not limit yourself just to Paris. France is a spectacular country, and you are short-changing yourself if you do not venture out to the fabulous cities, towns and villages. I am a Certified France Destination Specialist, certified by the French Government tourist office, Atout France. This certification required me to complete a rigorous course of study and testing of France tourism by region, as well as onsite visits to multiple départements throughout the country. I have connections with local tourist offices and suppliers throughout France to help plan your trip and ensure you enjoy each region to the fullest. I am also a Sud de France Destination Specialist, having completed advanced training and onsite visits in the beautiful Languedoc-Roussillon region. The South of France -- Provence and the Cote d’Azur -- are two of my favorite spots, and I would love to share my passion and knowledge to help you plan the trip of a lifetime! In addition, I am a Certified Travel Consultant (CTC), certified by the Travel Institute, the top credentialing body of US travel professionals. I fulfilled two of my long-time travel dreams recently. I had the great good fortune to meet Rick Steves (Europe Through the Back Door) and Samantha Brown, host of the popular Travel Channel “Passport” series. What a thrill! They were both just as engaging and personable in person as they are on TV . Enchanted Traveler Seminar Series I teach my signature Enchanted Traveler© classes through Community Education in Rochester and Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN. My courses include: Travel Smart, Enchanted France, Twitter for Travel, Twitter for Business, and more! Twitter – I am active on Twitter, with over 12,000 followers, and interact regularly with Francophiles around the globe. Follow me at @enchantedtravel Writings – I write for several travel and tourism sites, including Paris Perfect, Bonjour Paris, Girls Getaway. I'm available for speaking engagements and private seminars tailored to meet your group's needs. Contact me to discuss how I can help . À bientôt
Mary Ann Grisham |