Managing your business travel needs 24 hours a day

We pride ourselves on providing quality travel advice and excellent customer service for vacation and business travel to destinations worldwide. When you call a Global Travel specialist, you will talk to a skilled senior staff person who will respond immediately to your travel request.

Deborah J. Chapman

Specialties
Russian travel expert. Fluent in Russian and uniquely qualified to plan business, leisure, humanitarian aid, or education abroad trips to Russia. Works directly with contacts in Russia to arrange for English-speaking guides, hotel reservations, airport transfers, and Russian domestic air tickets. Capabilities include resolving travel emergencies and unexpected circumstances that may occur.

Recent Trips
Russia, Italy, France, England, Cayman Islands, Banff, Canada

Travel Discovery
St. Petersburg blanketed in snow is a winter wonderland experience, filled with romance, beauty and splendor. Yes, Russia in winter is unbelievably cold. However, the tourist attractions are indoors, and in winter they tend to be empty. Plus, airfare and hotels are less expensive during this time

Travel Agent Insider Tip
Be aware that travel to Russia requires extensive advance planning. However, to enjoy your trip, be flexible and realize that schedule changes will undoubtedly happen. For example, the museum you were scheduled to visit may suddenly decide to close for the afternoon without warning. Make such occurrences part of your travel experience, it will add to your adventure.

Travel Industry Credentials
My interest in Russia began when I was a junior in college. After completing a year of study in France, I went to what was then the Soviet Union, and spent 10 weeks there. I traveled overland from the Black Sea to the Sea of Japan, and visited with relatives in Kiev. Upon my return to the University of California, Berkeley, I continued to study Russian and after graduation returned to the Soviet Union where I worked as a nanny in Leningrad. During that time, I met many people with whom I have remained in contact over the years. I often tell clients that my knowledge of Russia is so well defined that “I can get you into Russia, and in the unlikely event that problems occur, I can get you out of Russia.”

My travel industry career began in 1994 when I opened Uniglobe Connoisseur Travel Agency in San Francisco. In 2002, I acquired Azevedo Travel, now Global Travel, in Concord, CA, east of San Francisco. I handle travel to Russia for 100+ clients a year, both individuals and corporations from all areas of the US. Clients include Wellesley College (travel plans for Semester in Russia program), Pacific Environment, and Hargreaves Association. I also arrange a two-week art history tour led by art historian, Roberta Shaw, to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Traveling is a career and a pastime for me. Destinations I hope to visit in the near future are Antarctica, Africa, Amsterdam and of course, Russia.

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Arlene B. Gavieres-Ramos

Janet Hemstalk

Janis McEachin

Deborah Simpson

Specialties
Cruise vacations, ski packages, Family travel (e.g, Disneyland and Disneyworld excursions), Special interest in Australia, Hawaii, Ireland, and the British Isles.

Recent Trips
Germany and Austria, London, Delta Queen Steamboatin' on the Mississippi River, Ireland, Kauai, Washington, D.C. and Williamsburg, VA.

Travel Discovery
Europe at Christmas is beautiful! The rates are low and the atmosphere is festive. Enjoy shopping amidst colorful decorations at London's famous department stores and then stop in at Claridge's for a cozy special Christmas tea. Germany and Austria are Christmas cards come to life. Each German town has a special Christmas market in the town square where locals gather to buy handcrafted ornaments, sip "gluhwein", and snack on world- famous bratwurst sandwiches and pastries only made at Christmas time. Experience the quiet majesty of Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart, blanketed in snow and travel to the nearby village where the song "Silent Night" was composed in a quaint country chapel.

Travel Agent Insider Tip
We all know that it’s important to arrive at the airport early these days when long security lines can be time consuming. It’s equally important to go directly to your departure gate and not leave that area unless you know what time the flight is boarding, not departing. Flights often board 30 to 40 minutes prior to departure and the doors are then locked. You may arrive back at the gate 25 minutes before the flight departs and learn that the boarding procedures have been completed. In this case, you may not be allowed onboard the aircraft and will miss your flight.

Travel Industry Credentials
I've been employed by Global Travel (formerly Azevedo Travel) for 10 years. I am a graduate of Western College of Travel Careers and have 14 years experience in the travel industry, working in both vacation and business travel. I hold specialist credentials with Outrigger Hotels, Sandals and Hyatt. I've lived in both Florida and Australia and have extensive knowledge of both destinations.

Travel is my passion. I love to travel the world, experiencing the variety of cultures while sharing in our common humanity.

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- John Stimson