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Reviews 4.9.

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The complete planning and experience…

The complete planning and experience resulted in a wonderful and enjoyable vacation have no problems at all. Everything was done for us completely. Thank you very much Pavlus.

Date of experience : December 15, 2023

Very happy with our travel planner…

Very happy with our travel planner (Pam) as well as the customer service group that supports her and her customers. Prices are as good or better than elsewhere. Have been a client for many years.

Date of experience : August 06, 2023

Reliable service

Reliable. Good communication. Cash back benefits a real plus! Enjoyed working with Stephanie on 3 trips. I'll stay with Pavlus.

Date of experience : November 08, 2023

Very good prices and customer service

Very good prices. Management team helps with any issues. Travel agents hit or miss. If you don't like travel agent, contact management and ask for a different one. Easy to reserve tours and ask for recommendations. A lot of tours to choose from

Date of experience : September 17, 2023

My travel agent Fia is very responsive…

My travel agent Fia is very responsive to my questions. Answers promptly and knowledgable. Plus the President of Pavlus Travel is always available and cares about the client.

Date of experience : September 14, 2023

I pretty much know what I want in my…

I pretty much know what I want in my vacations as I was in the travel business for 30 years. Pavlus just makes it easy to handle the booking and payment side and to trouble shoot anything.

Date of experience : December 17, 2023

The perfect trip with no worries

The travel Agence Pavlus with Pam Chavez as the agent keep great communication and well into our trip. As we were ready to end the trip the agency have our airline tickets and suitcase labels ready the day before we ended our cruise. It was the first time that an agency have done this for us and we have traveled the world. Thank you!

Date of experience : July 02, 2023

Pavlus Travel and our travel agent Melissa

Our travel agent, Melissa was terrific. She is knowledgeable, easy to work with, and quick to get back to us with any questions we have. And the Pavlus cash back program is much better than any agencies we have used in the past

Date of experience : September 15, 2023

We love Pavlus and Dianne!!

Our agent, Dianne, is a gem. I feel like she is family and really looks after us as we travel. She’s responsive to our questions and contacts us as our trip goes along to make certain everything works well.

Date of experience : November 04, 2023

Pam has expert knowledge and ability to…

Pam has expert knowledge and ability to help plan any trip. We’ve depended on her for 20+ years.

Date of experience : March 12, 2024

Save some money

They rebate part of their commission. Have used them several times. Not always able to reach the agent right away but they are good about returning calls.

Date of experience : August 26, 2023

Stellar Experiences with Pavlus Travel

We have been Pavlus customers for several years and are extremely pleased with their level of service, timeliness and responsiveness in addressing and meeting our needs, and in rewarding their loyal customers. Jamie, our current agent, is a shining example of Pavlus' customer service!

Date of experience : January 25, 2024

Customer Service was superior

Customer Service was superior, staff very friendly, engaging and professional. Cabins were cared for at highest level of care. Food was good but remember from previous cruise a notch better

Date of experience : November 07, 2023

Our Globus Highlights of Sicily and…

Our Globus Highlights of Sicily and Southern Italy tour was fantastic! Pam did a very good job with the booking, as always.

Date of experience : November 11, 2023

I actually changed agents before our…

I actually changed agents before our trip took place. I found our first agent wasn’t being diligent with my account. That being said I was extremely impressed by our new agent. She took care of everything and I was very pleased.

Date of experience : August 14, 2023

Competent, Timely, and Cost Effective

Agent Fia is extremely focused on customer needs and details. She is pro-active, and timely. An excellent choice for discounted travel services.

Date of experience : July 21, 2023

Great Cruise - Thanks Pavlus Travel

We had a great trip to the Caribbean on Oceania. Donna from Pavlus Travel found us a great deal. We have use her in the past and highly recommend her. We will definitely use her in the future.

Date of experience : February 04, 2024

Very professional staff

Very professional staff. Prompt replies to any concerns. We will definitely contact Pavlus for future travel plans.

Date of experience : September 11, 2023

Great cruise!

They set up all my travel plans, and kept me abreast of any changes. The cruise was what we expected and the transfers all worked out smoothly! Fun times!

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

Professionalism keeps me returning to Pavlus

I am a long term client because I have always appreciated the professional service I have received from Annette. Many members of my family and several friends are now Pavlus clients.

Date of experience : December 28, 2023

Pavlus Travel

Location & Hours

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7510 Montgomery Blvd NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109

Business Parkway/Academy Acres

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About the Business

Luxury Travel Agency featuring escorted tours, river cruises, cruises throughout the World. One of the Largest Travel Agency is the United States. Seller of Globus Tours, Viking River Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, Tauck, Regent Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, Crystal Cruises. Pavlus Travel discounts the prices of most all vacation products in the World. …

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Everything about this company screams quality and customer service. I'm sorry I haven't reviewed Pavlus earlier. I discovered Pavlus a couple of years ago and have booked quite a few cruises with them. They do a fantastic job regarding attention to detail, follow up and issue resolution (with the cruise line - not them!) I especially like their team approach as when my dedicated agent is off or busy, I can always find another Pavlus representative able to step in and help me. Another example is when cruising began to resume a few months ago after being shut down for over a year, I had some specific questions that needed answers. I knew calling the cruise line would not prove fruitful. A Pavlus manager knew WHO to talk to at the cruise line and got me my answers. Their referral program is great as well. Many of my friends have joined us on cruises and have in turn booked with Pavlus. Hope to be doing business with them for many years to come.

Pavlus is getting worse and worse. It was not as bad before the pandemic. Their post-pandemic incompetence is staggering and getting worse and worse, starting from the management and filtering down to the agents. I always book everything myself and then transfer to Pavlus to get their small cash rebate. One would think that it is fool-proof when one books oneself and then transfers to Pavlus agent, right? Wrong, so very wrong! Pavlus still manages to make major mistakes after mistaks with the booking which requires only a simple change to the Pavlus name. My latest booking is my last one with Pavlus - enough already. The agent is promising to correct the mistakes for months with no result. I wish I had stopped with Pavlus before my current booking. Pavlus will never-ever become better because the management, despite the major and very obvious errors by their travel agents, finds excuses for them ("it was a misunderstanding") and do not want to acknowledge their obvious mistakes. If the mistakes are not acknowledged, nothing changes. My advice: Do yourself a big favor and stay away from Pavlus. If you already have a booking with them, check it thorough and do not trust them to book your airline tickets. A little cash refund you eventually get, will cost you hours and hours of aggravation dealing with them. It is not worth it.

I have not had a good experience with Pavlus . This agency is not well managed and TAs are poorly trained. The TA was too busy to return phone calls, and I easily booked a trip and flights myself. They expect you to do all the work for them, then transfer the booking to Pavlus to give them a commission. You are actually working for their commission and your small bonus. The negative part is that you have an non-performing middle-man, Pavlus, between you and your booking. Here is the explanation of the poor Pavlus service: Since Pavlus gives rebates, their agents do not provide good customer service, especially now, when post-pandemic they have a high volume of bookings. My friends book with another large travel agency where there is always a manager on-duty to help if TA is not available. It is a very good business model. Nowadays it is easier than ever to book travel directly yourself with cruise and tour companies. Most cruises also have on-line booking and have their own agents to get all the information needed. Google Flights app is better than TAs to track prices and get the best flights with the lowest prices. Dear Pavlus, your rebate is not worth the aggravation :). Strongly do not recommend!!!

Initially I was amazed with the service of Pavlus travel as well as the perks that they offered for teachers. We have have referred numerous friends to Pavlus because we were so happy with our travels. Within the past three years, we began to experience extreme communication issues with Pavlus as well as a significant turnover in staff. We have regularly booked yearly cruises and we generally do all the background work for the agent. They simply need to book our travel. We have stayed with Pavlus travel for the shipboard credit that they offer but now I am wondering if this is even worth the hassle. I have referred a family member for a honeymoon and what is consistent with Pavlus right now is that they didn't get back to the couple and they lost their initial destination and had to start all over. Unless something happens significantly, Pavlus will be losing 8 customers.

First off, I go to Europe at least twice/year over 30 years, so I'm no novice to travel. I normally take Globus tours, so I know their services well. Pavlus does not provide good customer service in a timely fashion. Agents are usually unavailable during the day of my call, all this working from home crap just isn't working for me. I did, however, get an experienced, knowledgeable, customer service-oriented travel agent on the phone by accident one day, and she was able to get me a terrific flight into Budapest/out of Berlin which my previous agent seemed unable to do. So Trina is to be praised for her help and experience. I probably won't use Pavlus again for many reasons, but if I did, I would definitely call Trina directly. I will probably go through Globus directly, as I have in the past, with a much better customer experience. Sad how customer service means little to so many companies since the pandemic.......

Stay away! I would never recommend pavlus as a travel agency. They fleeced my 70 year old parents with over promising and under delivering on services on a trip to Paris. Originally they were promised non-stop flights and instead pavlus booked plane tickets that required them to carry their entire baggage through multiple checkpoints at us airports! This was after they deliberately paid extra money, and requested non-stop flights. Furthermore, Pavlus covid travel information was inadequate and didn't help my elderly parents arrange their travel plans appropriately. My family was also offered a refund that has not been credited yet even though their trip ended 2 weeks ago.

BUYER BEWARE: DO NOT use this agent for travel. In October of 2019, my friends and I decided to travel to Peru. We booked a tour through Pavlus Travel and made a deposit of approximately $6000. Due to Covid19, our trip to Peru was canceled. Today marks exactly 61 days since we were told that the refund was issued. (see attached) We have NOT received the refund. We have contacted them multiple times. At first, after advising us the refund was issued, they kept insisting we accept a credit voucher instead. Wait a minute, wasn't the refund issued already? No! They blatantly lied, utilized unethical stalling practices to try to convince us of allowing them to keep our deposit. (see photos)

See all photos from Sara R. for Pavlus Travel

I had booked my cruise with NCL but moved my reservation to Pavlus travel since they were offering on board credits for booking with them through a family member recommendation. I was dealing with Rose and Kymm. The first issue I had is I called to get a quote on how much an upgrade would be. I was then being called to authorize my credit card for the additional fee. I just wanted to know how much of a difference it was, not to change my booking. I told them to leave it the way it was, she sounded frustrated when I said I did not want to change. Next I saw NCL was running a promotion to add 4 offers when booked. My sister had been able to add the offers to her and my mother's room. I thought let me see if I can add them. I also saw that the room price had gone down, so I did not see an issue with adding on the offers since I paid more when I booked and had done this through NCL in the past. I emailed Kymm and she sent me a confirmation telling me she got the lower rate and I was getting a credit. She also told me that Rose was my contact and to contact her about my bookings. Looking at the invoice I saw the one offer was added and the lower rate was there. But the invoice showed Balance Due and was higher than my original invoice. I then called Rose and told her I was not sure why I ended up owing money, but she kept insisting it was a credit and that is how NCL writes it. She finally said she would call NCL since I said it was a higher price from my original booking. I finally noticed that they added on a higher drink package that I was going to have to pay for. I told them I did not want that. I finally had them remove that. She then told me she was able to get me some on board credits for the lower fare but I did not qualify for the other 2 offers I did not have. I did not get an explanation on why I did not qualify. After another email she told me it was for new bookings only. But how did the revised invoice show the lower rate and the shore excursion package? The meals went from 4 to 5 back to 4. The invoice still shows Premium Drink Package even though it should just be the ultimate package. I do not know what happened or what the actual answer is since I can not contact NCL directly and have to go through the travel agent. Then while looking at the Pavlus invoices I noticed their on board credit they offered me was lowered. I emailed to confirm I was getting what originally offered, but she told me the invoices shows the lower amount. Again, no explanation on why they now lowered the offer. I keep emailing, but I am not getting an answer on why that changed. So make sure to check your invoices carefully when using this company.

Revised invoice credit with no explanation.

Original Invoice Credit

Pavlus is incompetent. My reps could not get my reservation correct with Holland America, despite many phone calls to them. Vacations to go is much better. Avoid Pavlus at all costs!

We are experienced and frequent travelers and have used Pavlus several times BUT, you need to follow up multiple times to get any information. I recently received an air quote for a land tour Pavlus booked for me, it was for incorrect days and times. I pointed this out immediately and asked for a revised quote, that was two weeks ago and I am still waiting. In the meantime, i booked my own air but paid an additional 700.00 because I was waiting for my agent at Pavlus. I also asked for a quote for a 25 day Amazon cruise and still no response. These are not I expensive trips yet no response. You also get stuck with one agent , whoever you had form your first contact, so if they aren't good, you have no one else to help you. In February, we went to Antarctica, booked through Pavlus and they arranged air for us but I found they booked the wrong return day.

For years, we have used Mindy Green at Pavlus with nary a problem. They give you a great price which coupled with Mindy's efficiency is an unbeatable combination. On occasion she has had to "go to bat for us with the cruise line to get everything we were entitled to. Because Pavlus is so large, they have the clout. I have also found the Guest Relations staff to be equally as responsive.

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The Meandering Traveler

A Travel Blog with Travel Tips and Interesting Facts

Celebrating 55 Years in Travel! Craig Pavlus’ Amazing Journey!

Celebrating 55 years in the travel industry, Craig Pavlus , founder and CEO of Pavlus Travel , brings a winning combination of creativity, professionalism, travel expertise and a passion for customer satisfaction to his Albuquerque, NM, agency’s operation each and every day.

Today, the powerhouse, family-owned, U.S. travel agency has a team of 50 employees across the U.S., compared with just five when the company was founded in 1994. And for 2023, Pavlus Travel expects to post nearly $130 million in vacation sales.

Did you know that the luxury travel agency is the world’s top seller of Tauck ? That’s a fact! Pavlus Travel is also in the top tier of sales for AmaWaterways , Crystal, Oceania Cruises , Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises , Viking and many others.

(In the photo above left to right, are Janet Anderson, director of luxury sales development, Pavlus Travel; Shelby Steudle, Pavlus’ president; and Craig Pavlus, founder and CEO, Pavlus Travel.)

Forging Relationships and Partnerships

For the 77-year-old Pavlus, success in life is all about forging the best relationships and partnerships. In the agency arena, that means creating win-win situations not only for the agency and its employees but also for valued customers and travel suppliers. And that’s paid off.

“We love our relationship with Craig Pavlus, Shelby Steudle, Michael Steudle and their whole team who are so knowledgeable of luxury travel and especially Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC),” emphasizes Shawn Tubman , that ultra-luxury line’s senior vice president, sales and trade marketing.

“Pavlus Travel is one of our top five partners in North America,” he adds. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they take over our number one position in the future.”

Tubman credits Pavlus’ “vision of focusing on the affluent consumer market and luxury cruising. He was an early adopter of this strategy and it’s paying off as the luxury market continues to grow.”

The Concrete Jungle

But let’s look at how it all began for Craig Pavlus. Born in the mid-1940s, he grew up in the concrete jungle of Chicago, IL , an inner-city kid and the son of working-class parents.

His mom, an avid entertainer who loved playing the organ and accordion, lovingly cared for the young Pavlus. In turn, his dad, an over-the-road truck driver, worked hard delivering truckloads of snazzy, new Ford cars to dealerships across the U.S.

Certainly, far-flung travel to Brazil, Egypt, Japan or Australia wasn’t on the radar for most working-class families planning a family vacation in the 1950s and 1960s. That said, the Pavlus family proudly headed out via station wagon to explore destinations around the Midwest.

During his middle school and teenage years, Pavlus found a unique way to escape the inner city every summer. “As a city boy, off I’d go on a TWA Constellation (known as a “Connie”) propeller plane to New York every summer to work on my uncle’s farm in Hudson,” he says.

“It was a great adventure that got me off the concrete sidewalk and into a rural environment,” Pavlus explains. Coincidentally, a TWA Constellation served as Air Force One for President Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s.

Craig Pavlus: Early Work Life 

Briefly, Pavlus attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, “one of the few times beyond those New York farm visits that I’d left the city,” he says. “But my college time was relatively short as I focused too much on fun.”

After a brief gig in a Chicago pharmacy, where he worked as an apprentice pharmacist, “I decided that it was time to get ‘a real job,'” he says. “So, I drove out to Chicago O’Hare International Airport to look for a job at the airlines.”

But in one example of how luck, or perhaps fate, can influence life’s important choices, Pavlus drove up an unfamiliar street at the airport. As he arrived at the end of the road, he didn’t know which way to turn.

“If I’d turned right, well, I would have arrived at American Airlines,” he says. “Instead, I turned left and that led me to TWA. And the rest is history.”

Two Decades with TWA

Founded in 1930 as Transcontinental & Western Air, Trans World Airlines or TWA operated until 2001, before ceasing service. But for seven decades, it was a major fixture of U.S. air travel, both with domestic and international routes.

“Hired by TWA, I started as a ticket agent in Chicago, and, from there, moved to an airport staff position at the airline’s New York headquarters,” says Pavlus. As a young adult in his 20s, “the many moves for TWA over the years were exciting, giving me the chance to explore different cities.”

In addition, “I got married during my first TWA gig in New York,” Pavlus tells  The Meandering Traveler. His wife Jean was a hostess at the TWA Ambassador Club in Boston, and Pavlus met her on a business trip.

Up, Up and Away 

After the couple married, airline personnel policy prevented two employees married to each other from working in the same city. So, Jean Pavlus moved to New York and left TWA. Meanwhile, her husband began his journey up the corporate ladder, serving as:

• TWA ticket office manager at San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Manager of the airline’s SFO ramp and commissary
• Manager of TWA’s entire Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) operation (He was likely TWA’s youngest airport manager at that time)
• General manager for the airline’s U.S. Pacific region including Seattle, Salt Lake City, Portland and other western U.S. cities
• General manager for TWA’s hub operation in Albuquerque, NM

Golden Age of Air Travel

In the earliest part of Pavlus’ career, air travel was a truly glamorous affair — a golden age in many ways. For instance, ladies often boarded their flights wearing fine wool suits, high heels, white gloves and fashionable hats, while men were attired in business suits, ties and spiffy shoes.

“On one hand it was exciting and also at that time in the 1960s, there were significant opportunities as the airline industry was growing,” acknowledges Pavlus.

Entering the Sales Arena

A totally new chapter – a deregulated U.S. airline industry – took flight in 1978. So, air carriers could freely set their own routes and pricing. Competition quickly became fierce.

So, TWA looked to its “go to” guy – Craig Pavlus – as the new director of sales for its western region. Following that, he was promoted to staff vice president of sales and reservations at TWA’s New York headquarters.

“Craig got his start in the airline industry where he was known to be a driven executive who helped shape the airline tour operating business,” says Joe Leon , vice president, sales, Americas, Silversea Cruises .

How so? By the late 1980s/early 1990s, Pavlus had become TWA’s senior vice president of marketing and president of both TWA Getaway Vacations and The Travel Channel .

Craig Pavlus: Incredible Progression

That was an amazing progression, keeping in mind that the young Pavlus had started as a TWA ticket agent more than two decades before!

Under Pavlus’ leadership, TWA Getaway Vacations became the largest airline-owned tour company. At its peak, it moved 175,000 people a year to Europe, and also had expanded to Hawaii and other destinations.

In total, Pavlus completed 26 years at TWA before leaving to pursue other opportunities in 1992.

Starting a Travel Agency

Always the innovator, though, Pavlus recognized the Internet in its infancy as a prime business opportunity. He believed it would become the best vehicle to market travel to the top places at the best prices to clients across the globe.

In addition, he recognized the travel agency business model as a great way to expertly serve customers. “I always had a thought that I could sell travel,” Pavlus tells us, adding that at one time, TWA’s travel agency operation reported to him.

“But I also thought it could be sold with a greater proposition for customer value and lower prices,” he stresses. So, that’s what he set out to achieve, when the agency opened in Albuquerque in 1994.

Chuckling, he recalls buying a Microsoft Front Page program for approximately $98 dollars. Soon, he’d created one of the first travel agency websites in the travel industry.

Pavlus Travel: A Family Affair

The agency’s operation was a family affair, for sure. “My father worked in the agency and he ‘drove’ the ticket sales,” says Pavlus, “while my wife Jean was the receptionist answering the phone.”

Not surprisingly, given his airline background, the agency sold lots of airline tickets, and at a lower price than others. Initially too, travel agency sales were primarily to consumers in European countries, with the agency not so much doing business as a local travel agency in Albuquerque. But that changed over time.

Success came quickly because “our premise was that our costs would always be low,” says Pavlus. Today, that philosophy continues and, as a result, “our 2023 sales are expected to reach more than $130 million.

“Our agency began selling and discounting tours, yet giving outstanding service, and that’s the absolute, prime focus of our business model for three decades,” he says.

Luxury Sales Leader

Over the past two decades, as previously mentioned, Pavlus Travel has consistently been the world’s largest seller of Tauck . Then, “when river cruising surfaced in a big way, we evolved to become one of the largest customers of Viking,” adds Pavlus.

“Over time, we’ve also morphed into one of the largest sellers of luxury travel in the country,” he emphasizes. Regent Seven Seas’ Tubman credits that to Pavlus’ understanding of loyalty and the importance of creating a true bond with customers — “always caring about what’s best for them. Pavlus has our best deals and offers, and we highly recommend them, not just professionally, but also personally.”

Another Perspective

From another travel supplier’s perspective, “Craig Pavlus and his amazing team have been great supporters and friends of Viking for 26 years,” stresses Michele Saegesser , vice president, sales, Viking . “Craig has embraced the Viking philosophy and expertise of marketing and has become one of the top producers for Viking globally.” That includes Viking’s ocean, river and expedition cruises.

Today, Pavlus Travel’s personal travel planners also specialize in selling many other luxury and ultra-luxury cruises, all-inclusive resort stays, escorted tours, and independent hotel stays. (See our recent blog detailing what’s new, for instance, at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore ).

Challenging Era

“When Covid surfaced, obviously it was a difficult time, and most businesses and most travel agencies furloughed staff,” acknowledges Pavlus. “But knowing that the team that worked for me had really provided our success, we were determined to keep every team member on salary during the pandemic. Everyone worked normal hours.”

Travel suppliers have a positive view of Pavlus’ commitment to his employees. “My biggest impression of Craig’s operation and of his incredible management style is how he treats and supports his sales team,” Saegesser explains. To her, he’s a role model in that regard.

Going “Remote”

As “remote” work has become more common for businesses post-pandemic, Pavlus Travel has gone to a “totally remote” model. Instead of coming to work at a brick-and-mortar location, the agency’s management team, personal travel planners, IT staff, customer service employees and others work at remote locations — often their homes. They’re spread across various states, which helps broadens the travel agency’s “reach.”

“COVID was horrid for all travel agencies, I know,” says Pavlus. “Industrywide, everyone had to do what they had to do.” He acknowledges that it was necessary for him to “make some significant contributions privately to maintain the team staying on board and working for us.”

The Travel Industry’s Recovery Begins

But as a result, that greatly helped the agency in its post-pandemic recovery. “We picked up a number of new clients – many luxury customers — who previously were with other agencies who’d furloughed staff and simply weren’t operating at the time,” he emphasizes.

In addition, when travel opened up again, Pavlus Travel was ready to hit the ground running. It already had an experienced, high-quality staff in place, all eager to assist customers.

“Now, we’re totally remote and among the largest single agency, family-owned business in the U.S.,” says Pavlus, crediting the agency’s resilience, adaptability and the entire team’s work ethic.

Personalized Service and Partners

Employees provide highly personalized service to customers by telephone, online chats, social media, and in-person, local meetings at times. Many are also active in community activities – getting up-close with clients at local events, travel shows or cultural or charitable programs.

But it’s a business of partnerships for sure. So, Pavlus and his team members also enjoy interacting with industry friends and clients on cruise ships, during escorted land tours, and at conferences.

Coming up, look for Pavlus and Steudle, for instance, to personally attend the christening and debut of Celebrity Cruises’ latest Edge-class ship,  Celebrity Ascent , in November 2023. They’ll also sail on Regent Seven Seas Cruises  to check out the new Seven Seas Grandeur  in December 2023.

Craig Pavlus: Family and Community

On the personal front, Pavlus and his wife Jean were happily married for 46 years. Sadly, she passed away in 2017. They lived for more than two decades in Albuquerque.

With a soft spot in his heart for canines and felines, Pavlus has served in the past on the City of Albuquerque Animal Shelter Board. Today, he remains an active contributor to animal shelter organizations throughout the country.

During his time in New Mexico, “I also learned to flip 17 houses with a friend,” he says. “Think of it as akin to the ‘Flip or Flop’ TV series.”

Go Raiders!

As a rabid NFL Las Vegas Raiders fan, Pavlus acknowledges that he’s a proud member of Raider Nation. As such, he’s a season ticket holder.

“I like attending games at the stadium in Las Vegas,” he says. “But I also greatly enjoyed the team’s many past seasons at Oakland for both the tailgating and the family atmosphere of Raider Nation there.”

Staying active, Pavlus takes time in his day and on weekends both for exercise and leisure play, whether that’s walking several miles daily, playing golf, spending time in Las Vegas or attending concerts.

A Live Music Fan 

Whatever the musical genre, Pavlus is generally “all in” for any concert. Simply put, he loves live music.

For instance, he recently attended a blues concert. “Now, I’m really looking to learn more about blues music – from its earliest deep South origins,” Pavlus says.

Above all, he emphatically says: “Disco will never die for me. If you don’t love it,  you simply weren’t there in the 1970s.”

Advice for Customers

What should consumers do when they’re working with any travel agency? What tips does Pavlus have for making that experience the best?

First, he says it’s great to ask questions of your advisor. While most consumers are skilled at doing research up front before even talking to a personal travel planner, “from the service side, we always strive to answer all the questions that the consumer has,” he stresses.

“We have a strong complement of personal travel planning experts , a very large guest relations staff and an airfare department eager to assist,” Pavlus notes.

How to Get the Best Pricing

Cost-wise, one big advantage for clients buying any vacation from Pavlus Travel is that research shows that 50 percent of all luxury travel agencies charge a service fee, which Pavlus does not.

“We also discount prices (with the exception of two travel companies), and at select times, we’ll even offer clients a price that’s at or even below our break-even price,” he says. “That’s because our top goal is client satisfaction.”

He says that clients who book with Pavlus thus will know they’re getting the absolute best price. That is particularly so, as the preferred relationships the agency has with multiple luxury suppliers provide consumers with a higher level of savings.

Book through a Reputable Travel Agency

What’s Pavlus’ top suggestions for travelers heading overseas in the near future? “Make sure you deal with a travel agency, and make sure you book air through an agency,” he emphasizes. “Since the pandemic, the airlines continue to often be a nightmare in service if you buy directly from the carrier and then have an issue,” he says.

Pavlus’ philosophy: “A travel agency is your best source of getting a resolution when something goes amiss with any travel arrangements booked through us. Certainly, you’ll have an advocate on your side.”

While not everything can be fixed, “the reality is that we can often make a difference that benefits the client,” he says. “Of course, travel insurance is a ‘must’ too.”

Constantly Gathering “Intel”

As the end of 2023 dawns and the new year begins in less than two months, Pavlus and his travel team members continue to proactively travel the globe.

They’re interacting with travel suppliers, such as  Princess Cruises’  Carmen Roig, vice president of sales, shown in the photo at right. This allows the agency to glean the latest “intel” and information about top travel brands.

Pavlus’ 55-Year Career 

“Craig’s impact on the travel advisor community has been his biggest contribution to our industry,” believes Silversea’s Leon. “Pavlus Travel was founded on the simple principles to take care of the customer first, offer superior customer service and do so with value for the customer top of mind.”

Also, Leon says, the Pavlus approach is to “be kind and generous to your employees and treat them as your customers.” He believes “those principles have driven Pavlus Travel’s success, and as a supplier, it’s a pleasure to work with the agency.”

Leon continues: “Craig is a man of his word and with Pavlus Travel, a deal is a deal! He may have made his name in the airline business, but Pavlus Travel is his legacy.”

Looking to the Future

The Meandering Traveler is looking to the future and can’t wait to see what Pavlus has up his sleeve next. Certainly, he’s come a long way from his annual teen trips aboard a TWA “Connie” to head east and work on his uncle’s New York farm.

From Craig Pavlus’ perspective, only one thing matters the most these days: “It’s all about supporting our team members who strive daily for our ultimate business goal — to make our clients’ ‘bucket list’ dreams come true.”

Important Information from  Pavlus Travel

• This blog site offers “basic, general information” about travel. It’s not staffed by travel advisors.
• Any personal views expressed reflect the anecdotal perspective of the author — simply one opinion by a frequent traveler. The views expressed should not substitute in any way for use of a professional travel advisor. And that applies to either advice or booking of any vacation.
• Also, please don’t use the Reply Section below if you’re asking for pricing, travel dates, accommodations, brochures or other specific requests. 
• That said, we are most happy and eager to assist you. Here’s how…
• If anything does tweak your interest in the story and you’d like to talk about a future vacation, please DO call us at 800-528-9300.
• Definitely, if you have questions about specific pricing, brochures, savings, itineraries, dates of travel, accommodations, accessible options and so on, please contact us. Again, call us at 800-528-9300 or visit and “live chat” at  Pavlus Travel’s official agency Web site.

Susan J. Young

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Craig Pavlus Steps Down as President of Pavlus Travel, Shelby Steudle Takes Over

Photo: Shelly Steudle

Craig Pavlus, the namesake and longtime president of Albuquerque, N.M.’s Pavlus Travel, is stepping down as president of the agency, with Shelby Steudle taking over.

Pavlus made the announcement on Tuesday, writing that he would continue as the agency’s CEO, focusing on the agency’s expansion into more luxury travel initiatives, while Steudle takes over as the day-to-day lead for the agency.

“After more than two decades of service to Pavlus Travel, Shelby Steudle is highly deserving of this promotion and I’m looking forward to her helping me lead the agency strategically as well as focusing on day-to-day agency operations,” Pavlus said. 

“While I’ll continue to be involved in the agency, the goal is to allow me to spend more time on developing new luxury travel initiatives that both enhance our revenue streams and also benefit our valued clients,” he added.

Steudle, a 24-year veteran of Pavlus travel, most recently served as the agency’s vice president of consumer marketing. Her past experience also includes corporative management, cruise sales, airline sales, accounting, and more. She is also credited with helping to lead Pavlus Travel’s expansion via a travel agency referral program.

“Having well-established relationships with many high-level travel industry executives, I look forward to leading Pavlus Travel into the future and growing our business substantially,” said Steudle.

“I am so proud of our team’s many accomplishments and humbled to be moving into this new position of president,” Steudle said. “I look forward to what’s ahead as we strive day in and day out to create incredible, memory-making vacation experiences for our clients.”

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