Rene Hood, Tropical Destination Vacation Specialist

My deeply-rooted love for travel stems from my childhood. As a child, I enjoyed developing a comprehensive knowledge of my home state, Michigan, through many travel experiences! With my family, I explored the Great Lakes and surrounding areas. I sampled the food, life, and culture, and fell into wanderlust! Even at a young age, I learned that you don’t have to travel thousands of miles away to encounter new experiences! There are fulfilling travel opportunities to be found anywhere! I LOVE discovering the hidden gems of travel, whether they may be unique dining locations or memorable adventures in any destination!

The continental United States is a great, big backyard of opportunities to travel! And whether you drive or fly, there is no better time to explore it! Some of my most memorable U.S travel experiences took place in cities such as Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and New York.I am a huge country music fan, so traveling to Nashville was a dream. The atmosphere of Broadway was so fun, loud and busy. While I was in Nashville, I went on a bus tour around Nashville and got to see The Country Music Hall of Fame and recording studios where famous country singers recorded their albums! Myrtle Beach, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are my favorite winter getaways to warmer weather and of course, a beach!! I love Ft. Lauderdale’s beaches and restaurants like Bubba Gump. Myrtle Beach’s SkyWheel is a great way to see a long stretch of the beach and ocean for miles!

And explaining my love for travel would not be complete without mentioning the shimmering sand and deep-blue, tranquil waters of the Caribbean! I have firsthand knowledge of and experience with many of the islands! My very first cruise whisked me away to the Cayman Islands and to Cozumel! I will never forget swimming with the dolphins and stingrays in the unbelievably clear, teal water! I discovered that I loved the convenience and ease of the cruising vacation lifestyle, and after just one cruise, I was hooked!  Since that first cruise, I have traveled to the Riviera Maya.During my visit to the Riviera Maya, I enjoyed exploring in the Cenotes, one of my favorite excursions yet! Cenotes are these beautiful underwater sinkholes and caves are created when limestone bedrock collapses and exposes the groundwater below. It was refreshing to swim in! I can’t wait to help you chart your own course to experience these awe-inspiring destinations for yourself!

And, last, but certainly not least: calling all honeymooners! My dream wedding wouldn’t be complete without a fabulous honeymoon to follow the festivities! I have combined my love of travel with personal experience, and know exactly how to guide couples in the planning of a memorable honeymoon. I will be traveling to St. Lucia this summer for my honeymoon, and I’m excited to help others select and coordinate their own unique travel experiences! Whatever you are looking for – relaxation on a beach; ease and convenience of a cruise; sight-seeing and land-based activities (or a combination thereof!), I will use my keen insights, attention to detail, and personal experience to help make your honeymoon an unforgettable extension of your special wedding celebration.