Greystone cruise company owner discusses summer, fall travel trends

As the franchise owner of the Greystone Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Jon Harvill said he is fulfilling a dream he has had since college. Since he opened the travel agency at the Village at Lee Branch in June 2014, Harvill said he has experienced the rewards of helping people make lifelong memories by arranging vacations across the globe.

“As part of the Expedia family of brands, we can leverage their $50 billion in buying power to provide travelers with a complete range of vacation products at exceptional value including flights, hotels, tours, car rentals and resort packages,” Harvill said.

Harvill also gets the chance to stay up-to-date on travel trends year-round. Right now, he said Alaska and Europe are some of the most popular summer cruise destinations. Canada and New England are also sought after, and trips to the Caribbean will pick up in the winter and spring. Harvill said deals are out there for customers who search for them, especially if they begin planning in the summer for fall and winter trips.

“Airfare to Europe is the best I've seen in years. I recently saw a sale for flights from Atlanta to Paris for $758 per person,” Harvill said.

Even for last-minute trips, Harvill said he receives information from hotels, resorts and cruise lines about promotional deals every day. Travelers can find deals on their own online, but Harvill said his agency has experience in negotiations and can get better prices for their customers.

“Another advantage of booking with Expedia CruiseShipCenters is that we're here to help – before, during and after the trip,” Harvill said.

For residents who want some help in planning their next vacation, Harvill can help with booking hotels or condos, yacht charters, airfare and amusement park tickets as well as cruises. Expedia CruiseShipCenters – Greystone is located at 270 Baker Blvd. and can be reached at 437-3354.