Member Spotlight: The Travel House of Quincy
“You work hard for your money, why risk it?” asks Mecki Kosin, owner of the Travel House of Quincy. “Working
with a travel consultant can help you make the most of your travel budget and ensure a safe, fun, relaxing, and worry-free vacation.”
Kosin got started in the travel business while she was still a student in Germany.
“I met an American travel agent who brought Young Life travelers to the school my sister attended,” said Kosin. “Since there was a curfew for young people under 18 in Germany and I was the only one in our family old enough to go with our student to the Young Life meetings on the other side of Frankfurt, I became involved in that program. That led me to working as a tour guide for the agency, leading travelers from the United States, including soldiers who arrived in Frankfurt, on walking tours.”
That travel agency also provided a safe house for refugees, giving Kosin and her colleagues exposure to a wide variety of cultures and cuisines.
After meeting her [now] husband when he was stationed in Germany, Kosin moved to Quincy in 1972 and worked at the Travel Center for few years before taking time to stay home with her children. When her children were older, she worked for the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce for ten years, founding the Sister City program during that time. Kosin got back into the travel industry in 1991, operating a bus tour business until purchasing the Travel House in January 1999.
With ten employees, including two full-time, the Travel House has an expert in almost every area of the business. “One of our travel consultants has expertise in Mexico, especially Rivera Maya,” said Kosin. “Another is a cruise expert, and we have graduates of Disney’s School of Knowledge. My expertise is Europe and Germany in particular. I am the only consultant in town who is a Certified Travel Counselor through the Institute of Certified Travel Agents. Achieving that distinction was an important personal goal, and it was great training.
Certification must be maintained annually and includes extensive continuing education.”
Kosin says Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Disney World, cruises and port cities on the coast are all popular with Quincy travelers.
“Fall is a good time to book winter travel,” said Kosin. “We now have the convenience of many non-stop flights from St. Louis to warmer destinations, but it’s important to book soon. There are rooms available but flights will begin to get full, especially around the holidays.”
This year, the Travel House has set up several clients on train trips to the western United States, with sleeping cars and several stops in national parks. Disney World, which occasionally offers special packages through the Travel House, is a great destination for families any time of year. According to Kosin, Europe has remained a top destination, despite the value of the Euro.
“I love working on self-guided trips, especially to Europe,” said Kosin. “All your activities can be planned in advance, giving you the ease and convenience of group travel, but offering much more flexibility than group tours. Booking activities in advance is especially helpful when there is a language barrier.”
Despite the destination, Kosin says she always recommends travel insurance. “We all look forward to vacation, so it is uncommon to cancel a trip - but you never know what is going to happen. Weather, sudden illness or a death in the family . . . those can disrupt travel plans. Just make sure you know what your plan covers; coverage can vary. Our travel consultants help customers understand their options and select the right coverage.”
Working with a travel agency also gives travelers peace of mind knowing someone is there to provide assistance in case they experience a problem during their trip.
“We’ve all had ‘hiccups’ – from lost passports to cancelled flights,” said Kosin. “Your travel consultant can help you get to - or back home from - your destination in those situations. If there is an issue with your room and the resort doesn’t fix it, we can step in and work on your behalf. We are also proactive; for example, we make sure you know (and have) the documents you need, from a visa to sufficient pages in your passport for your destination. If a hurricane might affect your trip, we know the options and keep you informed.”
“The best thing about working with the staff at the Travel House is the personalized service you will receive. We do not sell ‘off the rack’ trips - we get to know our clients and make recommendations based on their wants and needs. People sometimes think using a travel agency is more expensive – that is not true. If you’re traveling on a budget, be clear and realistic about your budget when working with your travel consultant. We can help you stretch your dollars to get the most for the money.”
“As a travel consultant, I help people make memories,” said Kosin. “We build dreams – and help make sure your trip doesn’t turn into a nightmare. Having someone with knowledge and expertise working on your behalf is the advantage of using the Travel House of Quincy to plan the trip of your dreams.”
For more information about the Travel House of Quincy, or to book your next vacation, call 222-0515 or visit www.travelhouseofquincy.com.
