©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Tony Mariotti is doing what he loves and says his clients are loving what he’s doing.
With a passion for travel, he has developed a new travel agency service in Saratoga that is spreading his infectious affinity for hitting the road.
“I caught the travel bug after college when I spent two months touring Europe, on a shoestring budget,” said Mariotti.He decided to open Bucketlist Vacation Planners. He said that while friends warned it may not be as lucrative as his previous career in real estate, he was willing to follow his heart.
"I never let go of the desire to help others create memories. I encourage clients to try new places and experiences," said Mariotti.
Initially, Mariotti became a Cruise Planner franchise owner. But he felt people had the misconception that they could only book ship cruises.
He said he then sat down and came up with the concept of Bucketlist Vacation Planners, which focuses on adventure-type travel packages, as well as luxury resort vacations. Just as the name suggests, Mariotti enjoys helping people create vacations that include things they have always dreamed of doing.
Mariotti said the response has been excellent so far, with many people looking for a vacation that is tailored to their needs. He has had several people working with him, assisting at trade shows and keeping him informed about the latest trends in travel. He said people have been receptive because they like the personalized assistance that they don't get from booking a vacation online.
"The personal service is unfamiliar to many travelers. What we actually do is provide a concierge service on a personal level and can customize it to meet anyone's needs, desires and bucket-list items," said Mariotti.
Looking ahead, Mariotti said his agency has a few group trips planned that people can join, including yoga retreats scheduled in Belize and Costa Rica, a spring getaway to Punta Cana and a river cruise in Germany. In addition to these week-long packages, the company also offers weekend retreats and packages that are more local in nature.
Bucketlist Planners can be reached at 250-1111.