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Pavlus is First-Class

Pavlus staff responded quickly and positively to our every question and need. Pavlus arranged our Viking River Cruise in such fashion that we were able to take advantage of all its aspects. This was our second time using Pavlus to book with Viking, and we would use them again.

Date of experience : September 24, 2024

Pavlus Makes Travel Planning Easy!

We have entrusted our travel planning to the professionals at Pavlus Travel since 1999. The entire team at Pavlus has made our love of travel seamless. Our agent Victoria led us through the tangled web of cancellations/refunds through Covid. We emerged unscathed due to her diligence. Pavlus is a class act! I can personally tell you that no matter how many trivial questions or requests you might have, they will NEVER let you down. I’m so glad that I moved from doing travel planning alone to the team of experts at Pavlus!

Date of experience : September 04, 2024

Problem Solved

We have always worked with Stephanie Potter planning our trips and she planned this trip. Since we added a couple and became a group of 8 we had the opportunity to work with both Dawn and Jocelyn in guest relations. They both worked to clear up a problem with a transfer company and did it quickly and effectively. Your company should be proud to have all 3 working for you. Paul & Cindy Douglas

Date of experience : September 21, 2024

Excellent responsive service and great value

Travel Planner (Jamie Roach) and Guest Relations (Dawn Claflin) did a great job. Very responsive. Documentation very clear. Excellent value overall. I will certainly be back.

Date of experience : September 09, 2024

Pavlus, especially Annette DeBaco and her team, are extremely responsive and thorough.Highly recommend!

Date of experience : September 16, 2024

Excellent communication and competitive…

Excellent communication and competitive price. I got an excellent price for a cruise with both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. Thanks to the agent named Mandy MacMullin for all the help she has given me.

Date of experience : September 08, 2024

Pavlus Travel and our travel agent

Pavlus Travel and our travel agent, Victoria Hill are very responsive and thorough! They work hard to find answers and offer a fabulous product at a deep discount! We are so happy to have found them. Ellen and Guy

Date of experience : September 23, 2024

Great Working with Pavlus since 2011

Working with Pavlus since 2011, booking multiple land tours, river cruises, and ocean cruises. Never once a problem. Three different travel planners over the last 13 years - each one terrific. Some nice cash payments for referrals and bookings are another incentive. Most recent - Viking River Cruise: Bucharest to Vienna with Prague post-cruise extension.

Date of experience : August 15, 2024

Green Cruises

My experience with Pavlus is outstanding. They have booked our Viking Cruises annually since 2015 in Europe and US. Wonderful guidance and take wonderful care of booking and the travel. Our great Personal Travel Planner id Donna Fontenot.

Date of experience : September 03, 2024

Pavlus Travel is the only travel agency to use

Pavlus Travel is very quick to respond and book for you. They know how to get all the discounts you would hope/qualify for. In addition, they give you the percentage savings that our local travel agent just could not do.

Date of experience : September 13, 2024

Great Experience

Pavlus Travel did an amazing job with this and previous cruise vacations. I highly recommend this company for cruise, et al, travels.

Date of experience : September 11, 2024

Worry free travel with Pavlus

We have been using Pavlus Travel for many years now and are always pleased with the service we have gotten. Our travel advisor, Dianne, is brilliant at helping us decide on exactly what we want to do and then making sure that we get just what we're looking for. Recommend Pavlus to friends and family and have never been disappointed!

Date of experience : August 06, 2024

I have used Pavlus for years

I have used Pavlus for years. I usually get a certain percentage of the cost of the trip back from them, often before I start my trip. They are extremely reliable.

Date of experience : September 06, 2024

Our trip planner

Our trip planner, Sarah S, was very responsive and helped us obtain the best value for our money.

Dianne is great

Dianne is great! Promptly returns calls and email. She is knowledgeable and offers suggestions without being pushy. Truly seems to care about her clients. Really just a pleasant professional to work with.

Date of experience : August 09, 2024

Rose Morrissey is the best

Rose Morrissey is the best. She responds quickly and follows through with concerns. Pavlus has a great Guest Relations team which deals efficiently with air arrangements or any other problems. The best is the check which comes about a week before travel. Who wants a shipboard credit? Cash is best, and that is what you get with Pavlus!

Date of experience : September 02, 2024

Another great Silversea cruise booked through Pavlus Travel

Advice and service make for a great cruise vacation.

Date of experience : September 20, 2024

Greece at One of Its Best!

Pam of Pavlus Travel is Professional, Helpful, Knowledgeable, Friendly, Supportive and Efficient! Pam organized all our Air Flights, Hotel, Hotel Dinner Reservations and many other important events that were scheduled for our wonderful vacation in Greece! She helped us with Tauck “The Gift of Time” to receive a complimentary room at our 5 Star Hotel in Athens, Greece too! The Windstar Ship was excellent and All the Staff were Professional, Knowledgeable, Friendly, Helpful and Respectful! We enjoyed all the Historical sights, architecture, Mythology, Culture and food of Greece.

Date of experience : August 27, 2024

Pavlus does it all -- perfectly!

With Pavlus, I travel most efficiently, most economically, and most confidently. Their help pre-trip is invaluable in providing clear information, billing, and helping me understand all my choices and decisions. They are masters at providing special touches that make us feel valued and cared for! My trip this month to Greenland and Iceland was no exception - perfect!

Date of experience : August 01, 2024

Number one choice for travel

Fia Bauer was our contact at Pavlus Travel. She is efficient, friendly, helpful and professional. She offers good advice and suggestions regarding how to choose an itinerary and travel company. She is very knowledgable and I would not hesitate to recommend both Fia and Pavlus Travel for a good travel experience.

The Meandering Traveler

A Travel Blog with Travel Tips and Interesting Facts

Travel Advisor Spotlight! Pavlus Travel’s Lee Alvarez Specializes in Luxury Cruises & Tours

Professional travel advisor Lee Alvarez, a 16-year Pavlus Travel veteran, is shown at Versailles near Paris, one of her favorite destinations.

When travelers who’ve returned from a premium/luxury tour or cruise can’t wait to tell their professional travel advisor. Lee Alvarez , about their vacation experience, the 16-year Pavlus Travel veteran from Albuquerque, NM, takes pride in knowing that she’s helped deliver the perfect getaway or trip of a lifetime.

“It’s a truly rewarding feeling,” she says.

“The conversation often ends with my customers saying, ‘We handed out your business cards,’” says Alvarez. She happily views that as a testament to her top-notch service and the high quality of the vacation arrangements.

Today, Alvarez specializes in assisting travelers with finding the perfect premium/luxury cruise or tour that matches their vacation style, personality, budget and dreams.

She’s a top seller of Tauck , Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises , and also books many vacations on Norwegian Cruise Line, Seabourn , and other cruise and tour brands.

From Finance to Travel 

Previously, Alvarez worked in the financial industry for nine years as a loan officer and annuities branch manager. She also received her insurance certification. “I did it all,” she adds.

But when the financial markets experienced a downturn in the 2000s, things became tough in the banking industry. That prompted her to seek a new career. So, travel proved the perfect career path.

Since becoming a personal travel planner, she’s never looked back. Guests can rest assured that Alvarez knows all the top premium/luxury travel brands inside and out. So, she’ll design expert arrangements based on that strong foundation of industry knowledge.

She’s also backed by the Pavlus Travel team in providing excellent customer service to her clients.

The Meandering Traveler asked her what she specifically likes about some of the brands she sells. What are benefits for guests? Alvarez provides a bit of insight for our readers.

Alvarez’s Perspective on Top Travel Brands

“Hands down,  Tauck is both seamless and a top-quality vacation experience for any guest,” Alvarez believes: “Personally, I will be on my seventh Tauck tour this coming July.”

Alvarez points to how Tauck both satisfies and exceeds customer expectations for multiple generations of guests. Having previously traveled on Tauck trips with her parents and also her daughter, she emphasizes: “We all agree it is the best.”

As for pure luxury cruise lines, “ Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the all-inclusive way to cruise with one price upfront,” she stresses. She also says that after Regent, “ Oceania Cruises is a good choice when considering the price points.”

What if her clients are seeking the best suites on a large ship. Then, she often suggests that they consider either Celebrity Cruises  or  Norwegian Cruise Line . Check out The Meandering Traveler’s recent blogs about the new Celebrity Beyond and Norwegian Prima .

In addition, she books many active, mature, upscale travelers on Seabourn , as they appreciate the ultra-luxury service. Seabourn also offers the Ventures program — with kayaking, hiking and an expedition-style team — on several ships. Plus, the line has launched its first expedition ship, Seabourn Venture .

And with   Princess Cruises , Alvarez says the draw is the price, the appeal for multigenerational, solo and group travel – such as groups of friends or family members. And the Princess ships themselves are easy to navigate, she adds.

Top 2023 Trips Selected by Alvarez

For 2023 or 2024 , The Meandering Traveler asked Alvarez what three specific trips would she personally love to take and why? She did us one better. “I’m actually taking three trips in 2023,” she tells us.

Here’s the scoop about her upcoming trips, and if you’re interested in one of these itineraries as well, contact Pavlus Travel .

“ Antarctica Express-Fly the Drake ” with Quark Expeditions

“What can I say? This offers adventure, expeditions, penguins, the polar plunge, you name it,” Alvarez emphasizes. “This is a good suggestion for travelers with a dream of Antarctica but fearing the rough waters of the Drake Passage, as an air flight takes you over that stretch of ocean directly to Prince George’s Island in the South Shetland Islands. And presto, you’re in Antarctica.”

At press time, the starting price of this expedition ( click the headline link above to see the complete Quark itinerary ) was $10,332 per person, double occupancy. For Pavlus’ customers booking through the agency , though, Alvarez says an additional 8 percent discount is available.

“ Kenya and Tanzania ” with Tauck

  Alvarez previously visited  South Africa with Tauck. She reports that taking the cable car to the top of Table Mountain delivered the most spectacular views she’d ever seen.

That said, her only regret was not doing the South Africa tour back-to-back with Kenya and Tanzania . “So, this has been on my Top Five for five years. I can’t wait to experience East Africa — the people, cultures, agriculture, Big 5 animals, games drive and so on.”

At press time, this 13-day land tour ( click the headline link above to see the day-to-day Tauck itinerary ) was priced at $11,790 per person, double occupancy. If you’re interested in this tour, definitely contact Pavlus Travel as a special amenity is provided with this booking.

“British Isles” with Princess Cruises

Alvarez also plans to cruise with her daughter roundtrip from London on a Princess Cruises’ 10-day “British Isles” itinerary. In 2022, Alvarez cruised with Princess to Alaska with a high school reunion group of friends.

The group had so much fun that while onboard they booked this itinerary on  Regal Princess.  “So, off we go to visit London, then Ireland and Scotland,” notes Alvarez. “I am looking forward to Guernsey and all the castles.”

Princess has several itineraries in the British Isles area ( click the headline link above to see options ). Then contact Pavlus Travel and ask about its 8 percent discounted price on a Princess British Isles cruise.

Alvarez’s Favorite Destinations

It’s always insightful to see what favorite destinations across the globe an expert travel advisor loves. Here are three of Alvarez’s favorites:

Australia:  The country “Down Under” definitely has “amazing people and land,” she notes. “Uluru ( see photo above ) is not to be missed.” An avid motorcycle enthusiast, Alvarez previously headed out on a Harley Davidson motorcycle around the Uluru/Ayers Rock area.

“The ride and learning about the sacred land were life changing,” she stresses, noting that the arrangements for the motorcycle rental were made by Abercrombie & Kent.

Paris, France:  “This is always our stopover place if we get a chance,” Alvarez explains. “We love staying in the 7 th  Arrondissement area right along the river.”

Florence, Italy:  Simply put, she says: “Wow! I could live there.”

Personal Vacation Style 

Everyone has his or her own vacation style, notes Alvarez. So, she takes great pride in helping match her customers with what works best for their “vacation personality” and desires. For some travelers, for example, a themed cruise may dovetail well with their personal interests.

When it comes to Alvarez’s personal vacation style on land, “I like to spend two or three nights in each city with nice hotels, morning touring, afternoons at leisure and great meals,” she says.

A veteran of 20-plus cruises, she freely admits to becoming laid back -– sometimes too much so — on a cruise but also acknowledges that’s “sometimes that’s what’s needed!”

Personally, she likes Regent Seven Seas for cruises: “ I was able to sail with them to Alaska and the bar was set high.”

As a cruise destination, Alaska is tops in her view, but she’s also enjoyed cruising to Mexico, the Caribbean and elsewhere.

So, what’s Alvarez’s bucket list moving forward?

“After my 2023 trips, my bucket list is next focused on Asia – specifically Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand,” she reveals. For those considering a cruise to Asia, The Meandering Traveler just published a blog about three Asian Seabourn cruises we’d love to take!

In Alvarez’s free time, she and her husband enjoy taking their four very active, large dogs in the family’s RV to surrounding lakes and mountain areas within New Mexico. “We love our state,” she says proudly. “We’re also state and national park pass holders and travel in our RV year-round. We truly enjoy the winter for RVing.”

More Travel Advisor Insight

In assisting her customers with their vacation planning, Alvarez does her best to cover all the details – not just with the cruise or tour booking, but with other facets of the trip as well.

“For example, when our customer has a certain tour or cruise booked and they want to stay abroad to visit family or friends in another country, we’ll assist with trains, hotels, transfers and internal air flights,” she explains.

As travel returns to pre-pandemic levels, increasingly, Alvarez’s customers are going on vacation and heading to airports. “Flying was once a ‘fun’ component, but times have changed,” Alvarez acknowledges.

“When flights are delayed or luggage is lost, remain calm and have patience with air issues,” she advises her customers. “Go with the flow. Take a deep breath. Remember that your vacation will be fabulous when you get there.”

For more travel tips, check out  The Meandering Traveler’s   blog earlier this month .

Holiday Plans and Customer Assistance

This month, Alvarez says she’ll celebrate the holidays with her two children, ages 22 and 26, the family’s four 80-to-100-pound dogs and “a husband who thinks that he is Clark Griswold during any holiday. Our house is always lit up with decorations.”

As for her New Year’s resolution? “I have a personal goal to stand up on my paddleboard that I got at the end of this summer,” she quips. “It’s hard!”

Alvarez is fun, professional, experienced at her job and easy to chat with. She’s just one of the many skilled, professional travel advisors at Pavlus Travel who are ready to answer questions and assist both existing and new customers.

Important Information from Pavlus Travel

• If anything tweaks your interest in this blog 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.

Note to Readers: Please do not use the reply section of this site to ask questions about potential vacation options. Instead, call the number above or visit the Pavlus Travel website. This blog site offers “basic, general information” about travel; it’s not designed to provide specific pricing nor is it 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 in the blog above should not substitute in any way for use of a professional travel advisor. 

Shelby Steudle

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