(17 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Jo Ann Buening

La Crosse, WI

Alaska Destination Specialist and Travel Expert

Alaska became a state of the union on January 3, 1959, the same day I was born. I must have been destined to make this my specialty and over the years, I have developed a passion for Alaska! My first visit to ‘The Great Land’ was in the mid ‘80s. ...
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Alaska became a state of the union on January 3, 1959, the same day I was born. I must have been destined to make this my specialty and over the years, I have developed a passion for Alaska! My first visit to ‘The Great Land’ was in the mid ‘80s. Fast-forwarding to the summer of 2021 finds me having completed my 14th visit to Alaska. These journeys have included both sea and land; each time I visit Alaska, I see something different and every time I return, I think, ‘when can I go again?’ There is something intriguing about Alaska that draws me back, time and time again. I’m not sure if it’s the crispness in the air, (I’ve been told you get more oxygen when in Alaska); maybe that’s why I feel so good when I am there, or maybe it’s the friendly people who live in Alaska, or maybe it’s the pristine beauty, or maybe it’s the way life seems to pass so much more slowly in Alaska. Whatever it is … it’s a place I want to return again and again. I have a PASSION for Alaska! When shopping for a trip to Alaska, I equate it to going to the grocery store and trying to find the ‘plain’ French dressing in the salad dressing aisle. It’s pretty difficult; there are WAY too many choices. That’s where I come in. When you are thinking of traveling to Alaska, e-mail me, give me a call or come and see me. I will ask you qualifying questions about what you want to see and do during your visit and will help you find the French dressing (or in this case, the best trip to Alaska!!) Alaska is a very large state (it would cover 1/5 of the lower 48); it’s difficult to see too much of it in one visit, as one inch on a map may result in eight hours of travel time. Since I’ve visited and traveled so much in Alaska, I will be able to help you find the trip that is right for you and your capabilities. Some clients want to stay busy the entire time, while others want to sit back and just enjoy the beauty of Alaska. I will be able to guide you and help you make good choices. I will not only help you make the choices that are right for you, I will assist you during the entire process, including trip research, trip booking and then, about one month prior to your departure, prepare you for your trip. Should you have questions or want assistance with choosing shore excursions, I am happy to assist. Whether I have experienced the shore excursion during one of my travels to Alaska or if one of my clients has, I will provide you with what knowledge I can. I’ve sent several hundred travelers to Alaska and would love to assist you with this ‘trip of a lifetime’, whether it is your first visit or a return visit to see more. Did I mention that I have a PASSION for Alaska? In addition to the hundreds of individual travelers I have sent to the Great Land, I’ve organized several multigenerational groups, including those up to 54 travelers, to this destination. Alaska is a wonderful choice for a multigenerational trip to mark a milestone birthday or anniversary – or for a family reunion. There is something for everyone – young and young-at-heart alike. On the cruise, almost everything is included (accommodations, food, entertainment and more). I help to make it a very easy trip for the group leader as well, as I make the arrangements and take care of the details. All of these groups have been a great success and I have received many referrals (from my happy clients) for their friends and relatives who have subsequently called me to plan THEIR Alaska adventure. I look forward to helping you plan an amazing trip to this beautiful destination. Did I mention that I have a passion for Alaska?

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Jo Ann Buening

Can Be Reached At

1-608-791-8358

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Worldwide Cruise Expert

Reflecting on the beauty of Alaska!

More than twenty-five cruises taken, well over 1,500 happy cruise passengers booked (and returned!), referrals from across the country, plus the highest cruise specialist and ‘counsellor’ designation earned give me more knowledge and personal experience in cruising than many travel agents in North America. However, it wasn’t always that way! I encourage you to read ‘my story’ of how I conquered a fear and became an Elite Cruise Counsellor. Many years ago I needed to be encouraged to take my first cruise. My fear of water, plus fear of the unknown took over; however, with a gentle nudge from one of the owners of the agency where I am employed, I decided to give it a try. My first cruise experience was to travel to Vancouver, BC to attend a CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) training event, featuring ship inspections. My goal (for that trip) was to be able to merely walk down the gangway, board the ship, and enjoy lunch and the sales seminar. While this may seem like a very simple task to some, it was not to me. With my fear of water, I knew I would really have to build my courage to ‘walk that plank’. With the help of a colleague who extended her arm for support, I was able to board the ship. While onboard I found the environment of a cruise ship to be very elegant. My brain said “I like that.” The food was very good (brain said “I like that, too”) and listening to the information during the seminar certainly painted a picture of a wonderful way to travel – cruising. So, as I boarded one ship after another during the event, inspecting each to see what the inside of their ship looked like, I already had decided to try cruising!! A few months later I was given the opportunity to cruise for the first time. While the weather was less than I would have wished for, the cruising experience was something I knew I wanted to do more of. That experience was 13 years ago and here’s what has happened in the meantime. “Knowledge is power.” I decided that if I was going to be able to help my clients experience the travel segment of cruising, I needed to become as knowledgeable as possible. So, that is exactly what I did. Every cruise opportunity that presented itself in the form of a training cruise, I would take. In the past I had escorted land-based groups, however I decided with my expanding cruise experience, I could escort groups on a cruise ship as well and found it to be a wonderful type of trip to escort. My onboard responsibility was to ensure my travelers were taken care of and having a good time. With all of the entertainment and fabulous options, plus great destinations all over the world, this would be a good way for me to introduce several of my existing clients to cruising. And, for those who may have had some of the same fears of water that I do, seeing how I overcame my basic fear of cruising encouraged them to try a cruise themselves. CLIA is the educational arm of the cruise industry and while there are online seminars that must be completed and classes attended, we must also show proof that we have traveled on the ships ourselves. While it may sound glamorous, it is not an easy task; it is labor and time-intensive. My first level in cruise training to complete was the ACC – Accredited Cruise Counsellor – I completed this in 2003. My second level in cruise training to complete was the MCC – Master Cruise Counsellor – I completed this in 2005. The next level in cruise training (and highest level) to complete was the ECC – Elite Cruise Counsellor … a very difficult goal to achieve in a short period of time and I completed this in 2007. When that certification was earned, CLIA advised me I was only the 200th agent (of all the travel agents in the CLIA program) to achieve this status in the US/Puerto Rico and Canada. In addition, in 2014, I achieved my LCS – Luxury Cruise Specialist. While there was specific training on the luxury cruise line segment and selling luxury travel in general, I also needed to show proof of traveling on a luxury cruise line. In July of 2014 my husband and I sailed on Regent Seven Seas’ Navigator in Alaska in a Penthouse suite (complete with a Butler) to celebrate our anniversary … something that I now recommend to clients who come to me wanting a special milestone event with a vacation. What a wonderful cruise experience that was! In addition to having earned my ACC, MCC, ECC and LCS, I’ve now completed more than 25 cruises, including ocean liners as well as river cruises. With that firsthand experience in cruising, both from a ‘having-sailed’ and specialist designations earned, I am well qualified to help my clients choose the right cruise line, itinerary, cabin type and shore excursions. Selling cruises and cruisetours is the largest portion of my annual sales and I have gained referrals from all over the country.

My Travel Albums

Alaska Adventures ... 14 & Counting

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