Hi friend,

As we roll into Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking a lot about how grateful I am for the people who trust me with something as important as their vacation time. This past week, I actually hit double my goal for travel booked for 2025… and that’s 100% because of clients like you. 🙌 It’s been so fun mapping out your cruises, city escapes, and big bucket-list adventures.

I can’t wait to see where our adventures take us in 2026. If you’ve been thinking about a trip (even a “someday” one), this is your sign: now is a really good time to start planning.

Whether I’ve helped you plan a full itinerary, answered a “Would this be crazy?” email, or you’ve just quietly read these newsletters and dreamed about future trips… I’m truly thankful for you. Because of you, I get to do work I love: helping people explore this big, amazing, beautiful world.

- John -

A Little Thank-You (Antarctica Giveaway 🐧)

As a small way to say thanks, I’m doing a special giveaway:

👉 You can win a fine art print from my time in Antarctica one of my favorite images from that trip, printed as a wall-worthy piece for your home.

How to enter:

• Sign up for my Newsletter

• Refer a friend, family member, or coworker to book travel with me

• For each person who starts planning a trip with me, you get one entry into the drawing

• Any trip you or they book between now and then end of the year is another entry!

I’ll draw a winner on January 5th 2026!

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Travel Deals Are Coming 🖤

If you are like me your email inbox is filled with “deals” and “promotions” right now. It can be a bit overwhelming knowing what is truly a deal and what is “clever marketing tactics” (you know where they raised prices last week by 20% so they can offer a 15% discount this weekend).

This time of year is prime time for:

• Cruise deals (ocean and river)

• All-inclusive resorts

• Hotel + air packages

• Tours and experience bundles

Instead of trying to decode all the fine print on your own, I can:

• Keep an eye on deals that match the kind of trip you actually want

• Help you figure out whether a sale is truly a good value

• Make sure you’re not locking into the wrong dates, room type, or non-refundable option just because the banner said “LAST CHANCE!”

Want Me Watching for You?

If you’re even thinking about traveling in 2026 (or sneaking in one more 2025 adventure), now’s a great time to get on my radar.

Shoot me an email with:

1. Where you’d love to go (or 2–3 ideas)

2. Approximate dates/months

3. Who’s coming with you (solo, partner, friends, family, etc.)

4. Your rough budget range

I’ll:

• Let you know if any Black Friday/Cyber Monday promos fit what you’re dreaming about

• Give you a no-pressure starting plan

• Take care of the details when you’re ready to lock something in

What a Travel Advisor Actually Does

In case you haven’t worked closely with a travel advisor before, here’s what you get when you work with me:

• Customized trip ideas
  I learn how you like to travel, early riser or “snooze it again,” museum hopper or beach napper, foodie or “someone please find me comfort food” and build the trip around that.

• Smarter hotel & cruise choices
  It’s not just about price and star ratings. I look at location, vibe, layout, and perks so you don’t accidentally book a “great deal” that’s nowhere near anything you want to see.

• Perks & extras
  Depending on the partner, that can mean upgrades, resort credits, free breakfast, welcome amenities, late checkout, and those little touches that make a trip feel special.

• Less stress, more fun
  Instead of juggling 47 tabs and 10 confirmation emails, you have one point of contact (me) who can help with questions, changes, and “uh oh, our flight moved” surprises.

• No extra cost to you (in most cases)
  I’m usually paid by the hotel, cruise line, or tour operator, not by you. So you get expert help without paying more than you would booking on your own.

If you’re a “show me the stats” person, here’s a little snapshot of what booking through me has looked like this year:

• 100+ clients helped with trips, cruises, and getaways

• An average of 10+% savings across hotel bookings compared to public rates

• Dozens of Early check-ins, late checkouts, and room upgrades arranged

• Thousands in free bar tab and sailor loot on Virgin Voyages cruises and priority boarding for every one of my clients!

• There was even a life-size chocolate Thor’s hammer as a welcome amenity for one of my clients traveling in Iceland

The short version: I’m always looking for ways to make your trip feel a little bit extra—whether that’s a better rate, a better room, or a delightful surprise.

Thank You (Truly)

Thank you for reading, for trusting me with your travel plans, for sharing my name with your friends, and for letting me be a small part of your adventures.

Here’s to good food, good people, and some seriously good trips on your calendar.

Happy Thanksgiving,

John Yates

Celladora Travel