Last week, we discussed the importance of expanding your air travel knowledge. Let’s continue building and expanding your expertise by considering a domestic favorite: Seattle.
We believe the best insights come from those with firsthand experience. That’s why we turn to our alumni for authentic, practical advice you can share with your clients. In this article, travel advisor Jennifer Dugan, CTA, Chief Family Officer at Dugan’s Travels LLC, shares her insider expertise about maximizing time in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
Here is what Jennifer has to say:
One of the biggest pieces of advice I give clients visiting Seattle is simple: if you have the time, don’t make Seattle your only destination.
Many travelers first consider Seattle because they are sailing on an Alaska cruise. They plan to fly in, spend a night near the cruise terminal, board their ship, and go home afterward. But once they learn about the area, they often realize Seattle can be the beginning of a much larger Pacific Northwest vacation.
If clients have time, there are several experiences I encourage them to consider.
Roche Harbor
The San Juan Islands: My Favorite Pacific Northwest Escape
If travelers can extend their vacation, the San Juan Islands are one of my favorite places to recommend. Even as a resident here, I think they are pretty amazing and something visitors should experience if their itinerary allows.
The important thing for travel advisors to understand is that these islands require planning. This isn’t an excursion clients should add at the last minute, particularly if they plan to take a vehicle aboard a Washington State Ferry. Ferry reservations can be an important part of the planning process, and availability can become limited.
That is where a travel advisor can add real value. If the San Juan Islands are important to consider, discuss them early in the planning process.
The ferry isn’t the only way to reach the islands. Seaplane service from the Seattle area can turn transportation into part of the experience itself and may be worth considering, depending on the itinerary, budget, and sense of adventure.
Take the Ferry to Bainbridge Island
If there is insufficient time for the San Juan Islands, I highly recommend taking the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.
The ferry ride itself is part of the attraction. Travelers get out on Puget Sound and can see Seattle and the surrounding landscape from a completely different perspective.
Visitors spend time exploring Bainbridge Island before returning to Seattle. This is a relatively simple way to give clients a taste of life beyond downtown while experiencing a part of living and traveling around Puget Sound.
Don’t Overlook the Olympic Peninsula
Clients may know about the Space Needle and Pike Place Market but have no idea how much natural beauty exists within Seattle’s reach. Depending on time availability, the Olympic Peninsula can open the door to an entirely different type of vacation.
This is where advisors can think beyond a traditional city itinerary. Instead of asking, “What should my client do in Seattle?” consider asking, “How much time do my clients have in Washington?”
Mount Rainier and the Greater Pacific Northwest
Mount Rainier is another experience that can completely change the Seattle vacation perception. On a clear day, visitors may catch their first glimpse of the mountain from Seattle and immediately understand why locals simply call it “the mountain.”
Travelers can leave the urban environment behind and experience the extraordinary surrounding scenery. An important selling point is that the destination doesn’t end at the city limits.
Seattle offers the restaurants, sports, attractions, and entertainment of a major city. Travelers then can board a ferry, visit an island, head to the mountains, or explore the Olympic Peninsula.
Turn the Cruise Port into Part of the Vacation
For advisors, Alaska cruises may present one of the biggest opportunities. Instead of automatically booking clients to arrive the night before their cruise and leave immediately afterward, explain what else they could experience.
Could they spend two nights in Seattle and a day on Bainbridge Island? Could a longer trip include the San Juan Islands? Could they explore Mount Rainier post-cruise?
An advisor can turn an Alaska cruise itinerary into a Pacific Northwest vacation, creating a better experience for the traveler and allowing the advisor to build a more complete, more memorable itinerary.
My Advice to Fellow Travel Advisors
When clients say they are going to Seattle, ask how much time they have.
If only a day or two, introduce them to the city and consider a ferry ride to Bainbridge Island. Additional days? Mention the Olympic Peninsula, Mount Rainier, and surroundings. If they can plan ahead, consider the San Juan Islands.
Seattle is a wonderful destination alone, but one of the best things about visiting is everything it offers travelers.
Sometimes our job is simply helping clients realize what they didn’t know was there.
Thanks so much, Jennifer!
