Meet Our Staff

Barb  Diggs

Group and Leisure Consultant

Areas of Expertise: Alaska | All Inclusive | Bahamas | Bermuda | Caribbean | Central America | ClubMed | Cost Rica | Cruises | Cruises - Canada | Cruises - Mexico | Disney | Family | Groups | Hawaii | Las Vegas | Latin America | Mexico | Mexican Riviera |

When you have a group that's ready to travel, I'm the person to call. Since joining Carol's Travel in 2007, I have personally embraced the challenge of creating itineraries for gatherings small and large, and I'm adept at customizing each trip to the needs of the whole group as well as the individuals within it. I'm good at arranging the necessary touches, like special excursions for participants, anniversary celebrations and dinners with little extras.

I get along with all types of people, and I pride myself on customer service from start to finish. If someone presents me with a request, I do everything in my power to take care of it. We have terrific internal resources here at Carol's Travel, so if I don't know the answer to your question, I know just who to turn to for advice.

When it's time for my own vacations, I'm a big fan of summery weather and sunny shores, so it's no surprise that I love Florida, especially the Gulf side with its sugar-sand beaches and clear blue waters. I enjoy all types of cruises and I've been to Las Vegas over 20 times, seeing it as a fun choice for a quick and easy getaway to a warm climate with nice hotels and pools. I've traveled to Mexico, the Caribbean, the Disney parks, Universal Studios, Hawaii and countless cities across the U.S., all of which I feel confident in selling. One of my favorite trips took me to Brussels with my husband, including a two-day rail excursion to Paris and back. It was the first time I had been to Europe, and experiencing the European way of life was a real eye-opener for me. Everything was so wonderfully different there, from the modes of transportation to the food and the lifestyle. I was particularly amazed at the architecture of the churches, unlike anything I had seen in the U.S.

In order to constantly broaden my horizons, each year I go somewhere new as well as revisiting a destination I've been to before. Firsthand knowledge is key, so I keep as busy as possible inspecting hotels, checking out restaurants and familiarizing myself with transportation options. That way, I can share all the inside tips you'll need to know and provide you with the ultimate in travel advice.

Contact Barb via email -- click here.

Maureen Ellul

Cruise & Tour Vacations

Areas of Expertise: Adventure | Alaska | All Inclusive | Asia | Bahamas | Bermuda | Canada | Caribbean | Central America | China | ClubMed | Cost Rica | Cruises | Cruises - Canada | Cruises - Mexico | Disney | Europe | Europe - Central | Europe - Cruises | Europe - Western | Family | Great Britain | Greece | Greek Isles | Hawaii | Honeymoon | Hong Kong | Ireland | Italy | Latin America | Luxury Cruises | Mediterranean | Mexico | Mexican Riviera | Reno | Russia | Safaris | Sandals | Ski Trips | South America | Spain | Tahiti |

In 1993 I parlayed my love of history and adventure into a profession as a travel consultant, and in 1996 I joined the talented team at Carol's Travel Service. Since then I've taken a wide variety of trips by land and sea, and I've kept my skills sharp by earning certifications with many destinations and cruise lines. Whenever I go anywhere in the world, I read about it first and immerse myself in its uniqueness, which ultimately allows me to share valuable insights with my clients.

I'm a big fan of river cruises and have toured much of Europe in that fashion. The small size of the ships - usually about 100 passengers - allows an intimate look at a relatively small geographic area, with onboard naturalists who add depth to what you're seeing. Plus, on seven-day river cruises, the atmosphere is conducive to making friends with fellow passengers. As a history buff, I love Germany, with its castles around every bend. My travels have also taken me to countless destinations in the U.S. including Alaska and Hawaii - where my daughter lives, as well as Mexico, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Belize, and Tahiti Since I ski, raft, kayak and ride motorcycles, I enjoy selling adventure and eco-travel, which means going anywhere off the beaten path. For instance, in Costa Rica I took public transportation and stayed in jungle lodges. In Ireland, I stayed in a hotel where they wait to turn on the hot water until you say you want a shower. For me, part of the joy of travel is learning how to expect the unexpected, and I encourage clients to stay flexible and keep an open mind.

As I work with clients to craft their trips, I paint a picture that's as real as possible for them. I help them understand that cultures are different from place to place, and other destinations aren't like home. As I listen to them and understand their expectations, I tell them about my own experiences, from my opinions about certain hotels to my thoughts on certain attractions and transportation options. All of those attributes combine to help me achieve my overall goal of exceptional customer service.

Contact Maureen via email -- click here.

Mary Goecking

Cruise & Tour Vacations & Destination Weddings

Areas of Expertise: All Inclusive | Bahamas | Bermuda | Caribbean | Central America | ClubMed | Cost Rica | Cruises | Cruises - Mexico | Disney | Family | Great Britain | Groups | Hawaii | Las Vegas | Mexico | Mexican Riviera | Pacific | Sandals |

Destination weddings are my passion. While I enjoy planning travel of all types, the wedding trip is a thrilling time in the lives of a bride and groom, and I get excited right along with them. Each couple is unique, so I believe there's no better way to fashion their perfect vacation than to listen to them. For instance, do they want to tie the knot in a church, or say "I do" while going barefoot on the beach? What do they want to do before and after the ceremony? How small or large is their guest list? The more they talk about their wishes and needs, the better I'm able to use my experience to come up with the right answer for them.

I've been a travel consultant for 12 years, the past few years with Carol's Travel Service and Cruise Center. A former hairdresser, I decided to parlay my love of travel into a job, and today I visit places I never thought I'd have a chance to see. Sometimes I even get to bring my three children with me. I am a firm believer in visiting destinations firsthand in order to better serve my clients, and today I feel well-versed in the similarities and differences of resorts in many locations. Thanks to my own travel experiences, I've learned how to make trips as smooth as possible for my clients, preparing them for unexpected surprises and discussing the advantages of purchasing insurance. I tell people that it's important to go with the flow and be open-minded in order to have a positive travel experience.

Since I'm a beach person, I specialize in travel to the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii. Some of my own favorite trips have been to all-inclusive resorts -- like Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort in the Bahamas -- because they emphasize relaxation and great service in beautiful settings. I make sure that my clients understand just what is included at an all-inclusive resort, and I do everything in my power to make their vacation exciting and memorable.

Contact Mary via email -- click here.

Dell Kasuk

Sales Support

Areas of Expertise:

Dell has brought her great organizational and creative skills to us - and not a moment too soon. She helps keep the office stocked with thousands of travel brochures and handles many of our other clerical needs. Dell works opposite hours from Kathy, so she might be the one to greet you first when you call us.

Contact Dell via email -- click here.

Carol Lekki

President, CTC, MCC, DS

Areas of Expertise: Adventure | Africa | Alaska | All Inclusive | Australia | Bahamas | Bermuda | Business Travel | Canada | Caribbean | Central America | ClubMed | Cost Rica | Cruises | Cruises - Canada | Cruises - Mexico | Disney | Egypt | Europe | Europe - Central | Europe - Cruises | Europe - Western | Family | Great Britain | Greece | Greek Isles | Groups | Hawaii | Honeymoon | Ireland | Italy | Las Vegas | Latin America | Luxury Cruises | Mediterranean | Mexico | Mexican Riviera | Reno | Safaris | Sandals | Ski Trips | South America | Sport |

Since I began working as a travel consultant in 1976, I've learned that the world is our playground. It's seems at times like such a small place, with so many similarities between faraway lands. At the same time, it holds a tremendous diversity in culture, history and lifestyles. From that day in 1980 when I opened Carol's Travel Service up through the present, I have operated under the philosophy that everyone has their place in the grand scheme of things. We are tremendously lucky to visit such amazing destinations -- and to come home to so many riches back home.

I've worked hard over the years to keep myself keyed into the trends and changes in the industry, earning qualifications such as Certified Travel Consultant from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents and Master Cruise Counselor from the Cruise Lines International Association. The years have taught me how to turn on a dime and adapt to whatever comes my way, which is an important talent in this ever- evolving profession.

While I am actively involved in all phases of the business, I focus on group sales for cruises, escorted tours, packages and customized itineraries. I plan trips for groups of 20 - 400 including family reunions, association travel, clubs, alumni and special interest groups. Since I have completed many century bike rides, marathons and triathlons, I stay involved with our endurance sports groups and adventure travelers. Each group has its own personality, and I strive to deliver the experience they're looking for, whether it's a gathering of 15 or 150.

When it's time for my own travel, my favorite trips are those that bring me into the great outdoors. As an Alaska Destination Specialist and Backroads Inside Track Specialist, I believe there's no better way to see and feel a destination than to experience it up-close and personal, whether it's hiking, horseback riding or biking. It allows you to see things you'd never come in contact with otherwise. Small wonder, then, that some of my travel highlights have included river rafting in southern Montana, biking all the way around the Big Island of Hawaii and navigating a motor cruiser around the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. I'm a big fan of exotic destinations like East and South Africa and the Galapagos - I love the game drive, and I enjoy the history of Europe, with its small cobblestone roads, age-old buildings and slower pace of life.

Contact Carol via email -- click here.

Dan Lekki

Vice President

Areas of Expertise:

Travel is in my blood. As Carol's son, I basically grew up in the industry, and I have always loved going to new places and experiencing other cultures. Since joining Carol's Travel Service in 1999, I have dedicated myself to handling most of the day-to-day administration and operations of the agency as well as marketing and promotions. Having majored in public relations, I consider myself a real people person. I enjoy making personal connections with customers and exploring new avenues of business for the agency. I also get a great deal of satisfaction out of representing the company through my everyday contact with vendors and potential clients.

When people talk with me about travel, I always advise them to step outside of the box and explore the unknown during their trips rather than confine themselves to a rigid agenda. For instance, in Hawaii – my favorite place for a vacation -- I like to get in the car, drive around and look for activities, restaurants and experiences that are off the beaten path. I have applied that theory to experiences around the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and South America, and it always rewards me with little surprises and big memories.

Over the years I've come to appreciate the high level of service that our travel consultants provide for their clients. The team at Carol's Travel strives to be everything to everyone. When you combine the knowledge and experience of the various members of our staff, it results in a world of resources for the people we assist.

Contact Dan via email -- click here.