January 24, 2025 • 8 mins
Collette is more than just a travel company. Collette's guided tours offer curated travel packages for unforgettable adventures.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
A welcome in this is the Go Go Travel Show
Johnny Hertwell and special guest Matt oh d Ramo.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Very good.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Are you sure?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thank you Johnny for having mele a.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Members Choice Vacations by Collette.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
That is correct?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
All right? So what is that all about?
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Well, so Collette is the oldest tour operator in North America.
Where one hundred and seven year old company. Oh wow,
we're family owned. We're based in Patucka, Rhode Island. I
cover all the western in Central Pennsylvania and trip Away
here in Pittsburgh East Central is a very good partner
of ours. And when Collette partners with trip Away, we
(00:39):
have a white labeled brand called Member Choice Vacations.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Okay, so let get a little bit of a discount.
We're talking about elite travel then, yes.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
This is guided travel to all seven continents.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Guided travel. What does that mean? That seems like you
once you buy it, you forget it. You do all
the hard work.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
You know what? I like the way you put that. Yeah,
it's thoughtless travel.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Basically, we set up everything your transportation to the airport,
your transportation from the airports to the hotel. Upon arrival
to your hotel, maybe domestic or international. You have a
tour manager waiting for you, and you're traveling with a
group of people to see and experience and dive into
the culture of these amazing destinations.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
All right, you talked about various continents, but give us
an example of maybe somebody who wants to travel to
Let's go to Italy.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
That's a very.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Popular play and it's one of my favorite. That is
where I've been the most. My family's from there, so
we've traveled back and forth a few dozen times to Italy.
But it's amazing. So you would arrive in Rome. And
what really nice about traveling with Member Choice Vacations in
Collett If you book an air inclusive package, we pick
you up in a limo at your house and take
you to the airport. If you're within fifty miles complimentary,
(01:52):
we pick you up at the airport, We take you
to a hotel. You'll be greeted Hello, Welcome. My name
is Mario. I'm going to be your tour manager. We
have small group tours which are no more than sixteen
to twenty four, which are a little bit more boutique,
a little bit more experiential, like walking through marketsplace with
chefs and grabbing your ingredients and going back to the villas.
But our classic brand is what you normally would think
(02:12):
of when you think of a guide to toward those
big motor coaches they typically hold around fifty four fifty
six people. We limit them the forty four because you
never want to get on a bus and see every
single seat filled.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And then we would show you the whiles of the destination.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
You know, take you on a torda, you know, see
where the Romans were marching down to Via della Rosa
and see the coliseum and the Trevy fountain, the Spanish steps.
But it's much more than that because we also have
a lot of immersive local interaction because anyone can just
fly into Rome and take a look and see these
amazing sites. It's about the engagement with the people and
(02:48):
the culture and the heritage and the food and the wine.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
You know.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
So every day you just wake up, we have your
itinerary set for you with a balance of free time,
so you may start your day in the morning with
a guided tour with your tour manager and local guide.
And then a tour manager may say, ladies and gentlemen,
it's now you know, twelve o'clock, you have the remainderer
of your day at leisure. We'll see you tomorrow at
you know, eight in the morning.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
All right.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So, if somebody wants something a little bit more boutique,
but they're not sure what they want or what they
want to experience. They may have traveled quite a bit,
but they want something a little bit unique. So do
they go to you with an idea or do you
have a number of options for them to consider.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
It's a great question.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
We get it quite a bit because a lot of
travelers think that they know what they want, and they
think that they I want to do this, I want
to do that, until they get there and then they're like,
holy smokes, how am I going to do this on
my own? You know, Like and I'm a very experienced
traveler navigating training systems and buses, and you know, doing
all that on your own is very challenging.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Especially if you don't know those if you.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Don't know what you're doing, you don't know the language,
you don't know how to read the language. You know Ireland,
you know England. You can kind of get away with
it a little bit. Most countries people will speak English,
but you sit with your travel advisor and you say,
I'm interested in going to Italy and the travel advisor said, well,
what interest you, Rome, Florence, Venice. I don't want to
go to those big cities. Well there are tours that
(04:12):
go off the beaten path, all the little hilltop towns,
and oh, I would so love to experience that. So
that is what Now that I've been traveling for twenty
years with collect and Member Choice Vacations, that is how
I like to travel because I've seen a lot, I've
done a lot. So now I'm trying to get the
places that I've never been, like, you know, the Tuscany
and Umbria region, but not Florence. You know, you're looking
(04:34):
at Siena and Sanja, Mignano and making your way out
the Peas and Luke and all these little hilltop towns,
trying to get out off the Pepa. But it's not
just that it's Egypt, it's Jordan, it's Australia, New Zealand,
African so far African safaris are huge right now, Kenya, Tanzania,
You're going to Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders
of the World. Uh making her way to Namibia, which
(04:57):
is a brand new tour of ours. So Africa is
booming for us. In our African safaris, they only go
out with nineteen travelers, so it is a little smaller
even than our smaller tours.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
All right, so this is something a little step up
other than you know, triple A travel. So specifically, how
do we find the information that you're talking about?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Well, over the next three days, I would say, come
down to the convention center and come back into the
back of the room. You'll see our booth. I have
a lot of travel talks. I have nine of them
throughout the weekend, but really just sit down with your
travel advisor and ask them. You know, I want to
go somewhere. I don't know if I feel comfortable enough.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
To do it on my own. Right.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Oh, I get a lot of these going on here.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, So this is going to be a long weekend.
So this is a busy time of year for us.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Everyone's planning and we have dates and rates all the
way through April of twenty six right now and soon
to be April twenty seven.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So specifically they need to ask for choice travel.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
By remember choice vacations, and the advisors will know because
this is one of our biggest partners in the entire country.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
You're a fascinating cat.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Well, we're going to get you on a tour.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Where do you want to go?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I would love to go to Italy. See I'm being
a broadcaster. I generally go to the Caribbean. I love Pittsburgh,
but I have to be at least I have to
go to the Caribbean at least twice a year. However,
I've seen so much of the Caribbean, so I am
interested in maybe going to Italy or I hear you
(06:23):
know some of the Scandinavian countries.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Iceland is booming as well. Right now, we have that
non stop from Pittsburgh we can partner with In fact,
trip Away. We partnered with the National aviarya every year
doing a trip with their lead veterinarian doctor P. L. R. Fish,
and every year they sell out the trip. This year
they're going to Iceland. We're taking that non stop on
Iceland there and PLAR is leading it. We have special inclusions,
(06:49):
but that's already sold out. But we operate that trip
like eighty times a year. So travel wood Johnny to Iceland.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Okay, what about Croatia? I hear Croatia is.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Interesting, fascinating.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Why is that I've never you know, that's only been
recent so what fascinating?
Speaker 4 (07:04):
But ended up so I've been there three times. Feel
blessed to have had the opportunity. I found out my
wife was pregnant with my first boy when I was
in Croatia. That was a fun experience. And all of
my experiences have been pre COVID. But I think what happened,
what drew the attention is they open their borders a
lot earlier than a lot of other countries during the pandemic,
(07:26):
and people flocked to Croatia. They didn't have a lot
of regulations in place, and it is just continued to boom.
So we have four trips to go to Croatia, different
various styles. One of the trips is a three night
land with a seven night private yacht trip. It holds
The yacht is a thirty six passenger yacht, so it
(07:47):
has eighteen cabins and every day you just dock in
these tiny little because it's called the Dalmatian Coast Dalmatian
Coast because of the dots on a Dalmatian but all
the different islands and every day you just stop at
the different little island towns and explore. But it's street nights,
l and seven night cruise. We run them in both directions.
We also have that same cruise out of Venice doing
(08:08):
the northern Irelands of Croatia and then we have a
Croatia Slovenia tour which it's into Lubliana and Lake bled.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
This is my life.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yeah, I mean this is sounds like a fascinating job.
That is really cool. Yeah, good experience weekend, and it's
good to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I appreciate John, I have a good day.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Thank you about that.
A welcome in this is the Go Go Travel Show
Johnny Hertwell and special guest Matt oh d Ramo.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Very good.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Are you sure?
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thank you Johnny for having mele a.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Members Choice Vacations by Collette.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
That is correct?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
All right? So what is that all about?
Speaker 4 (00:18):
Well, so Collette is the oldest tour operator in North America.
Where one hundred and seven year old company. Oh wow,
we're family owned. We're based in Patucka, Rhode Island. I
cover all the western in Central Pennsylvania and trip Away
here in Pittsburgh East Central is a very good partner
of ours. And when Collette partners with trip Away, we
(00:39):
have a white labeled brand called Member Choice Vacations.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Okay, so let get a little bit of a discount.
We're talking about elite travel then, yes.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
This is guided travel to all seven continents.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Guided travel. What does that mean? That seems like you
once you buy it, you forget it. You do all
the hard work.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
You know what? I like the way you put that. Yeah,
it's thoughtless travel.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Basically, we set up everything your transportation to the airport,
your transportation from the airports to the hotel. Upon arrival
to your hotel, maybe domestic or international. You have a
tour manager waiting for you, and you're traveling with a
group of people to see and experience and dive into
the culture of these amazing destinations.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
All right, you talked about various continents, but give us
an example of maybe somebody who wants to travel to
Let's go to Italy.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
That's a very.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Popular play and it's one of my favorite. That is
where I've been the most. My family's from there, so
we've traveled back and forth a few dozen times to Italy.
But it's amazing. So you would arrive in Rome. And
what really nice about traveling with Member Choice Vacations in
Collett If you book an air inclusive package, we pick
you up in a limo at your house and take
you to the airport. If you're within fifty miles complimentary,
(01:52):
we pick you up at the airport, We take you
to a hotel. You'll be greeted Hello, Welcome. My name
is Mario. I'm going to be your tour manager. We
have small group tours which are no more than sixteen
to twenty four, which are a little bit more boutique,
a little bit more experiential, like walking through marketsplace with
chefs and grabbing your ingredients and going back to the villas.
But our classic brand is what you normally would think
(02:12):
of when you think of a guide to toward those
big motor coaches they typically hold around fifty four fifty
six people. We limit them the forty four because you
never want to get on a bus and see every
single seat filled.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
And then we would show you the whiles of the destination.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
You know, take you on a torda, you know, see
where the Romans were marching down to Via della Rosa
and see the coliseum and the Trevy fountain, the Spanish steps.
But it's much more than that because we also have
a lot of immersive local interaction because anyone can just
fly into Rome and take a look and see these
amazing sites. It's about the engagement with the people and
(02:48):
the culture and the heritage and the food and the wine.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
You know.
Speaker 4 (02:52):
So every day you just wake up, we have your
itinerary set for you with a balance of free time,
so you may start your day in the morning with
a guided tour with your tour manager and local guide.
And then a tour manager may say, ladies and gentlemen,
it's now you know, twelve o'clock, you have the remainderer
of your day at leisure. We'll see you tomorrow at
you know, eight in the morning.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
All right.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So, if somebody wants something a little bit more boutique,
but they're not sure what they want or what they
want to experience. They may have traveled quite a bit,
but they want something a little bit unique. So do
they go to you with an idea or do you
have a number of options for them to consider.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
It's a great question.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
We get it quite a bit because a lot of
travelers think that they know what they want, and they
think that they I want to do this, I want
to do that, until they get there and then they're like,
holy smokes, how am I going to do this on
my own? You know, Like and I'm a very experienced
traveler navigating training systems and buses, and you know, doing
all that on your own is very challenging.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Especially if you don't know those if you.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Don't know what you're doing, you don't know the language,
you don't know how to read the language. You know Ireland,
you know England. You can kind of get away with
it a little bit. Most countries people will speak English,
but you sit with your travel advisor and you say,
I'm interested in going to Italy and the travel advisor said, well,
what interest you, Rome, Florence, Venice. I don't want to
go to those big cities. Well there are tours that
(04:12):
go off the beaten path, all the little hilltop towns,
and oh, I would so love to experience that. So
that is what Now that I've been traveling for twenty
years with collect and Member Choice Vacations, that is how
I like to travel because I've seen a lot, I've
done a lot. So now I'm trying to get the
places that I've never been, like, you know, the Tuscany
and Umbria region, but not Florence. You know, you're looking
(04:34):
at Siena and Sanja, Mignano and making your way out
the Peas and Luke and all these little hilltop towns,
trying to get out off the Pepa. But it's not
just that it's Egypt, it's Jordan, it's Australia, New Zealand,
African so far African safaris are huge right now, Kenya, Tanzania,
You're going to Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders
of the World. Uh making her way to Namibia, which
(04:57):
is a brand new tour of ours. So Africa is
booming for us. In our African safaris, they only go
out with nineteen travelers, so it is a little smaller
even than our smaller tours.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
All right, so this is something a little step up
other than you know, triple A travel. So specifically, how
do we find the information that you're talking about?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Well, over the next three days, I would say, come
down to the convention center and come back into the
back of the room. You'll see our booth. I have
a lot of travel talks. I have nine of them
throughout the weekend, but really just sit down with your
travel advisor and ask them. You know, I want to
go somewhere. I don't know if I feel comfortable enough.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
To do it on my own. Right.
Speaker 4 (05:34):
Oh, I get a lot of these going on here.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah, So this is going to be a long weekend.
So this is a busy time of year for us.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Everyone's planning and we have dates and rates all the
way through April of twenty six right now and soon
to be April twenty seven.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So specifically they need to ask for choice travel.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
By remember choice vacations, and the advisors will know because
this is one of our biggest partners in the entire country.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
You're a fascinating cat.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Well, we're going to get you on a tour.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Where do you want to go?
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
I would love to go to Italy. See I'm being
a broadcaster. I generally go to the Caribbean. I love Pittsburgh,
but I have to be at least I have to
go to the Caribbean at least twice a year. However,
I've seen so much of the Caribbean, so I am
interested in maybe going to Italy or I hear you
(06:23):
know some of the Scandinavian countries.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
Iceland is booming as well. Right now, we have that
non stop from Pittsburgh we can partner with In fact,
trip Away. We partnered with the National aviarya every year
doing a trip with their lead veterinarian doctor P. L. R. Fish,
and every year they sell out the trip. This year
they're going to Iceland. We're taking that non stop on
Iceland there and PLAR is leading it. We have special inclusions,
(06:49):
but that's already sold out. But we operate that trip
like eighty times a year. So travel wood Johnny to Iceland.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Okay, what about Croatia? I hear Croatia is.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Interesting, fascinating.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Why is that I've never you know, that's only been
recent so what fascinating?
Speaker 4 (07:04):
But ended up so I've been there three times. Feel
blessed to have had the opportunity. I found out my
wife was pregnant with my first boy when I was
in Croatia. That was a fun experience. And all of
my experiences have been pre COVID. But I think what happened,
what drew the attention is they open their borders a
lot earlier than a lot of other countries during the pandemic,
(07:26):
and people flocked to Croatia. They didn't have a lot
of regulations in place, and it is just continued to boom.
So we have four trips to go to Croatia, different
various styles. One of the trips is a three night
land with a seven night private yacht trip. It holds
The yacht is a thirty six passenger yacht, so it
(07:47):
has eighteen cabins and every day you just dock in
these tiny little because it's called the Dalmatian Coast Dalmatian
Coast because of the dots on a Dalmatian but all
the different islands and every day you just stop at
the different little island towns and explore. But it's street nights,
l and seven night cruise. We run them in both directions.
We also have that same cruise out of Venice doing
(08:08):
the northern Irelands of Croatia and then we have a
Croatia Slovenia tour which it's into Lubliana and Lake bled.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
This is my life.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Yeah, I mean this is sounds like a fascinating job.
That is really cool. Yeah, good experience weekend, and it's
good to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I appreciate John, I have a good day.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Thank you about that.
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