Travel Consultant Tuesday: Danielle Sheerin

LT Globetrotter

April 3, 2018

For April’s first edition of #TravelConsultantTuesday, we caught up with Danielle Sheerin and discovered how living abroad in Rome inspired her to pursue her passion with a career in travel.

What inspired you to become a Synergy International Travels consultant?
I always dreamt of creating a life that involved exploration and envisioned a career in travel to make that possible. After living abroad in Rome for a year as a travel guide for students, I came back to the US and applied with Synergy International Travels the very next day! It was clear that this was the right path for me; I could talk about travel all day and this role allows me to do that and more.

Danielle called Rome home for a year and returned back to Long Island knowing that she was destined for a career in the travel industry. — Danielle called Rome home for a year and returned to Long Island knowing that she was destined for a career in travel.

We see that you've traveled to 22 countries! That's quite impressive. Where do you specialize in sending customers?
After living in Italy, I consider European travel my specialty. There's so much to see and do, and I'm passionate about helping travelers piece together the perfect itinerary for their needs. We can discuss the advantages of doing a guided tour versus an independent trip, and decide what's best for you. Not to mention, right now is a perfect time to book! If you're traveling to Europe in the summer or early fall, you won't want to wait much longer to get planning your dream trip. The earlier you book, the better chance we have at securing great rates on airfare, finding availability at your top-choice hotels, or snagging spots on that tour group that's filling up.

When it comes to traveling across Europe, Danielle has "been there, done that," so her recommendations to clients are first-hand. — When it comes to traveling across Europe, Danielle has "been there, done that," so her recommendations to clients are first-hand

What are the advantages to booking with you versus online?
Human connection is the number one reason to book with me. Why wouldn't you trust your travel plans with someone who's “been there done that” and has advice to share? I genuinely love travel and helping to create lifetime memories for people. Where a booking engine sees you as a number, I see clients as individuals with unique interests. I can help create a personalized itinerary based on your preferences and my first-hand knowledge. That’s something an algorithm will never be able to do for you.

With Danielle's expertise, travelers can make decisions like Tulum versus Cancun with advice unmatched online.

What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about your role as a travel consultant?
There’s a misconception that travel agents have lost their value over the years in the age of online booking engines. But the personal touch we place on each vacation that we help plan shouldn’t be overlooked. It usually only takes one conversation with a travel consultant for skeptics to be converted!
For instance, I had someone come into my office who had already booked their trip online, they just wanted some advice about Italy. I told her I was unsure about what she’d found so far, but started suggesting a few restaurants and some of my favorite places for sunset in each of the three towns she was visiting. She seemed thrown off that I had so much detailed information to share and after chatting for a bit she told me, "I've never thought to use a travel agent, but you just answered every question I had about Italy in 15-minutes that I spent days trying to look up online."

When you book with an expert like Danielle, you're going to receive recommendations beyond your accommodations, like where to catch the best sunset. — With Danielle you're going to receive recommendations beyond your accommodations, like where to catch the best sunset.

Since then, she's come back to me to book two different trips and even referred my complimentary services to family members. At the end of the day, a travel consultant isn't just a person to help make the booking process easier, they're genuine people who care about giving you the ultimate vacation experience.

Tell us your most interesting travel story.
When I was in Israel, there was a night where we camped out in the Negev desert. We had pretty much no technology and were set-up in tents. There just happened to be a sandstorm that night, so natives of the desert ended up doing a sand ritual and letting us sit in on it. It was breathtaking.

When traveling in Israel, Danielle met numerous kind locals, an experience that reminded her how important authentic experiences abroad are for travelers. — When in Israel, Danielle met many kind locals, a reminder of how important authentic experiences abroad are for travelers.

How can travelers connect with you to plan their next vacation?
I'm available for complimentary in-person consultations for those in Long Island at our Garden City location. You can also reach me via phone at (516) 746-5292 or via email at SheerinD@Synergy travel.com. I can't wait to help you plan your next dream vacation!

LT Globetrotter, Synergy International Travels Consultant

As fellow travelers, our people are always on the move discovering new destinations. On the occasions they take a break from exploring, they love to write up a few stories about their adventures before they leave for the next one, so you can enjoy expert tips, news, and recommendations to use for your own travels.