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Odyssey Travel Ormond Beach Reviews

Submitted by Greg Keene on 03/11/2022

Recommended!

I put my family Italy trip in the hands of Odyssey Travel and John Upchurch.  So glad I did!  He did a FANTASTIC job coordinating the most amazing vacation.  Everything went so smoothly and relaxing.  I will be consulting and booking with Odyssey Travel for many years to come.  THANK YOU!!! 

You are the best!

Our New Year trip to Antigua was wonderful! Paula took the time to learn exactly what makes us tick, and what our travel priorities were. Then she built a trip that met every request! She handled all of the details with ease and exceptional communication. On our own, we wouldn't have found such a perfect place to celebrate the new year!

Submitted by Laura Evans on 11/02/2021

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Love for travel runs in the family

Odyssey travel sees booming business..

• By Wayne Grant
• | 10:20 a.m. September 22, 2019
• Leave a comment

• Ormond Beach Observer

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”

This quote from an anonymous author is displayed in the office of Karen Upchurch, vice-president of Odyssey Travel in Ormond Beach. She’s been helping enrich people with travel since opening the agency in 1985 and was featured in the August issue of Luxury Travel Advisor magazine.

Travel is a passion she shares with her clients.

“I enjoy making dreams come true,” she said recently.

The company’s business has doubled in the last eight years in sales, since the recession, and Upchurch attributes it to the improving economy and retiring baby boomers, but also the addition of her son, John N. Upchurch, who, as president, handles the business end of the operations.

Having her son handle human resources, office management, etc. has freed her to spend all of her time working with clients.

“I only do what I like doing, my customized vacations,” she said. “And I love teaching.”

Upchurch teaches a three-month class for travel advisors, and taught at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University when the school offered a class.

A graduate of the University of Florida, she and her husband, John J. Upchurch, moved to Ormond Beach in 1972, where she taught at Tomoka Elementary School until 1985. After opening the travel agency, they were in Ormond Towne Square for 20 years and are now at 146 S. Atlantic Ave.

Another reason for their growth is that she focuses on adding and training new advisors.

They now have an office in Jacksonville and will soon open one in Viera. They have a staff of 30 in both locations and most are travel advisors who work as independent contractors.

The job of a travel advisor is very detailed, she said. An advisor must be detail oriented and have strong organizational skills, including follow-through.

GROUP TRAVEL MAKES MEMORIES

Karen Upchurch moved from the mass-market type of agency to luxury travel by joining Virtuoso, a global travel network, in 1999 to be able to give her clients special amenities.

The popular trend today is group travel, whether friends, family or a travel club.

“I really enjoy small groups,” Karen Upchurch said. “It adds to the memories, the enjoyment.”

The company creates customized travel plans that are detailed with transfers, dinner and tour reservations, etc.

River cruises are currently booming. People think of Europe for river cruises, but the Upchurches say there are several very good cruises in America.

Karen Upchurch specializes in South America, these days. Travelers don’t have the jet lag issue, and there are outdoor activities, wineries and tremendous scenery.

The fires in the Amazon rain forest are not affecting them.

The Upchurches enjoy travel themselves. Karen Upchurch recently returned from Mongolia and is now planning a trip to Normandy, France. John Upchurch is set to lead a tour in Italy.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

Before moving into the present building, the interior was totally remodeled. There are 16 offices, where advisors can have privacy with clients, but with large windows, for an open-office atmosphere.

Many travel agencies have all of the agents together in a large room, but they learned over the years that people want privacy when planning trips, providing credit card information, etc.

“I enjoy making dreams come true.” KAREN UPCHURCH, vice-president of Odyssey Travel

Many people turn to the Internet to make travel plans these days, but a travel agency provides a service component and knowledge of providers. Their relationship with providers can also result in more amenities.

“We live in a do-it-yourself society,” John Upchurch said. “But you might end up paying more and getting less service.”

To inform the public about what they offer, they do public presentations, sometimes at the office but also at other locations. At 10 a.m. on Jan. 11 at Daytona Beach Shores Community Center, they are planning a presentation with 20 suppliers.

John N. Upchurch is a former attorney who ran for U.S. Congress in 2018. He doesn’t rule out another run, but said he is now busy with the travel agency.

For upcoming presentations and other information, visit www.odysseytravel.com

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Stefan’s “Join the Fun” 2023 / 2024 Calendar

Join the fun with Stefan day trips and tours.

Book at our  www.jointhefun.us   or by check, payable to Join the Fun, 146 S. Atlantic Ave, Ormond Beach, FL. 32176 (Include Date & Name of the Tour, Guest Name, Email, Phone #, Address) Complete details of Tour will be Emailed out 1 week Prior. Tours and Day Trips are Non – Refundable once Purchased. Name Changes are allowed up to Day of the Tour. You Can Sell or Give away your Day Trip Seat. Travel on a 48 or 56 passenger Coach with Restroom, stops every 2 Hours and always Escorted!

2023  Trips & Tours

• January 8, 2023, Elvis at Orange Blossom Opry • February 22, 2023, Jeff Dunam • February 23, 2023, Cirque Du Soleil & Disney Springs • March 2, 2023, Strawberry Festival • March 11, 2023, Lee Greenwood Orange Blossom Opry • April 27, 2023, Jersey Boys – Alhambra Theater • March 29, 2023, Solomon’s Castle • April 4, 2023, Amelia Island by Boat • April 11, 2023, Ybor City & Flamenco Show • April 16-20, 2023, Myrtle Beach • April 16-24, 2023, Heritage of America • April 29, 2023, Mary Poppins at Cocoa Playhouse • May 4, 2023, Hard Rock Casino • May 18, 2023, Sleuth’s Murder Mystery Matinee • May 24- June 1, 2023- Great Lakes, Niagara Fall’s & Mackinac Island • June 8, 2023, Beauty & the Beast – Alhambra Theater • June 13, 2023, Victory Casino – Tropical Themed Day Cruise • June 15, 2023, Coconut Creek & Isle Casino • June 17, 2023, Lily Pad Festival & Navy Seal Museum • July 13, 2023, Hard Rock Casino • June 21- 29, 2023 Tuscany • July 29, 2023, Caladium Festival Lake Placid Florida • July 7-16, 2023, Alaska by Land • July 23-31, 2023, Snake River on American Queen Voyages • August 3, 2023, Fiddler on the Roof – Alhambra Theater • August 13-16, 2023, Biloxi Getaway at Beau Rivage • August 19, 2023, Elvis at orange Blossom opry • August 24, 2023, Hard Rock Casino • August 31, 2023, Tampa Aquarium & Boat Cruise • September 7, 2023, Mt. Dora Boat Cruise • September 10-19, 2023, PAINTED Canyons & Las Vegas • Sept 12 & 13, 2023, Jekyll Island, Hilton Head & Beaufort • September 19, 2023, Ringling Museum – Gardens – Home Tour • September 21, 2023, Hard Rock Casino • September 22-Oct 2, 2023, October Fest, Austria & Switzerland • September 27-October 7, 2023, Fall Rockies- National Parks - Train • September 28, 2023, -Legally Blonde– Alhambra Theater

• October 2-5, 2023, Key West at Opal Resort • October 9, 2023, Hard Rock Casino • October 13-22, 2023, Branson & Chattanooga Fall Foliage Tour • October 13- 21, 2023, Fall Foliage Cruise & Quebec Fairmont Chateau • October 28, 2023, Mt Dora Craft Fair • October 29, 2023, Micanopy Fall Festival Cross Creek & Butterfly Gardens • November 4, 2023, Silver Springs & Barberville Pioneer Settlement • November 6-9, 2023,  Myrtle Beach Christmas • November 9, 2023, Hard Rock Casino • November 14, 2023, Tarpon Springs & Sponge Cruise • November 27- December 1, 2023, Dollywood, Biltmore & Callaway Gardens Christmas • December 7, 2023, Hard Rock Casino • December 3, 2023, Bok Tower Christmas & Home • December 5-11, 2023, Ark Encounter, Creation Museum & Opryland Country Christmas • December 5-19, 2023, American Countess Lower MS. Cruise – plus Ark Encounter, Creation Museum & Opryland Country Christmas • December 11-19, 2023, American Countess Lower MS. Cruise Only Memphis to New Orleans • December 14, 2023, Night of Light s & Columbia St. Augustine • December 12-20, 2023, Christmas Markets by Motor Coach • December 19, 2023 – Miracle on 34th Street– Alhambra Theater • December 21, 2023, Rivership Romance & Asian Lantern Festival • December 29, 2023- Jan. 6, 2024, New Years Cruise • December 30- Jan 6, 2024, Rose Parade – Sandiego by Train

2024  Trips & Tours

• February 11-20, 2024, Tropical Costa Rica • February 22- March 8, 2024, Thailand • March 14-25, 2024, Treasures of Egypt • April 3-11, 2024, Holland & Belgium Tulip River Cruise • April 4- 14, 2024,  Greece Island Hopper • April 22- May 5, 2024, Japan Treasures & Cherry Blossoms • April 25- May 8, 2024, Spectacular South Africa • May 25- June 2, 2024, Northern Italy & Lake *Venice

THE DIFFERENCE IS NIGHT AND DAY!

Europe:  an abundance of cultural treasures..

Traveling across Europe opens your eyes to a world of unparalleled culture and history. It often seems impossible to choose between the Renaissance art of Florence and the Impressionist paintings of Paris; Germany’s Bavarian castles and the bustling multicultural London streets.

The wealth of knowledge acquired in Europe is an asset of a lifetime – its only rivals being the people and food you’ll encounter along the way! Close proximity of individual countries makes it easy to incorporate any number of them into your trip, while each country is more than worthy of a focused, extended stay as you immerse yourself in the culture and communities.

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