A month ago, I met Shandra Augenstein, who has a local travel planning business. I realized we have a lot in common – we both grew up on the Central Coast of California, have degrees in Cultural Anthropology, and lived in Santa Barbara. We also both love traveling.
I personally love every step of planning my travels, but that isn’t the case for many people, so I thought I’d pass on what Shandra does…
Hello fellow travelers! My name is Shandra! I love exploring our world, learning about new places, and sharing my knowledge and expertise with my clients!
I find great satisfaction in designing each unique trip and ultimately seeing how my work creates treasured experiences for solo travelers, couples, and families alike.
Whether you’re yearning for adrenaline-packed adventures, seeking vibrant LGBTQ+ friendly locales, or are in pursuit of profound relaxation at the beach or a tranquil spa getaway in the wine country, I will tailor your trip exactly to your preferences.
A bit about me…
Living the first half of my life on the Central Coast of California, I now call Orcas Island, Washington, home, as I have two decades of Northwest living under my belt. You can often find me and my family hiking along the creek in our local state park or exploring low tide along the waterfront, searching the horizon for orca whales.
Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by travel, geography, and culture. Some of the places I have personally traveled to include Thailand (4 times), Hawaii, Mexico, Honduras, Columbia, and its islands of Providencia and San Andreas as well as exploring many of our nation’s National Parks here in the US.
More about what I do…
As a professional travel agent, my specialty lies in diligently organizing your trip from start to finish, handling all the nitty gritty details to ensure your journey is not only enjoyable but also free of as much travel-related stress as possible.
It’s all about understanding your preferences, taking those ideas, and fashioning personally tailored, fun-packed itineraries that breathe life and excitement into your vision of the perfect vacation.
I believe strong client relationships, founded on trust and mutual respect, are fundamental to my business. From that initial outreach to completion of the trip, I am there for my clients every step of the way.
My process begins by truly listening to what a potential client envisions for their upcoming trip—their description of the perfect resort, specific excursions that suit their interest, and overall aspirations for their vacation. I then thoughtfully consider these details, allowing inspiration to guide me in matching them with the perfect supplier or tour operator.
If a potential client is ready to move forward with the planning process, there is a modest planning fee paid. I am primarily paid a commission by the suppliers and travel partners we work with, which comes in after the trip is complete. Aside from the initial planning fee, there are generally no other fees from Into the Sun Travel.
My focus is on tropical travel which includes destinations such as the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Thailand, and more. I have a focus on Wellness and Adventure travel but I will help plan just about any trip you need assistance with.
Working with partners such as G adventures, Tauck, Adventures by Disney, Island Routes, Intrepid Travel, and more, I will find the perfect match for my clients’ travel tastes and personalize the itinerary for your trip to your specific wishes.
If the tropics are not for you, I can assist in travel plans for other destinations. For European trips, I primarily focus on offering assistance in finding the right river cruise to match your style. Imagine unpacking once but still being able to experience several countries on your journey down the river, stopping in various ports along the way to take scenic bike rides or hike up into the hills for views of castles and quaint, half-timbered villages. Festive season river cruises are quite delightful with visits to Christmas markets and caroling on board.
I also love planning trips to theme parks such as Disney and Universal Studios, as they bring me a lot of joy to help coordinate. These days, a trip to these parks is much more complicated than it used to be. If you do not plan in advance and gain knowledge on how the parks operate now, you may miss out on a lot of great experiences. I can match you to the perfect resort to suit your style and help you to learn about the skip-the-line services, and assist in making important reservations at must-do restaurants and shows.
Top reasons to use a Travel Advisor:
- Less stress – planning together becomes fun!
- Time-saving – your time is valuable and I live for this
- Personalized service – Ready to turn your vision into reality
- Expert coordination – Let me do all of the heavy lifting
- Exclusive access = upgrades and add-ons at no cost
- Beautiful and easy-to-follow itineraries in your hand
- Support while in your destination if problems arise
If you would like to transform your travel aspirations into a seamless, unforgettable reality, contact me today and I will begin crafting your ideal getaway.
My website is here
My inquiry form is here
My Facebook page is here
My Instagram page is here
My Linked-In page is here
Click here for Facebook Group Tropical Getaways and Disney Days information
My most recent newsletter on Anguilla is here
I would like to offer a special freebie to those who sign up for my newsletter here. This will be a list of 7 destinations that are lesser-known gems for Wellness and Adventure Travel. It will be delivered by email once you sign up.
Cheers,
Shandra Augenstein
360-298-8286
Testimonial:
“Working with Shandra has been a great joy. I was so impressed with her ability to arrange my trip, which gave me so many wonderful options to consider. In the past, I would plan my own trips and make the arrangements. This trip was far more complicated to schedule and Shandra made it so much easier and a lot more fun.
She is very thorough, responsive, detailed, and keen with her suggestions, and adroit with her planning. I loved the final layout for all the arrangements, with pictures, descriptions, and detailed itinerary. It made it easy to follow and gave me confidence for the journey ahead. Do yourself a favor, allow Shandra to plan your next trip. It’s well worth it.” ~Robert B.
