Daniel Almon
Experts in River Cruises & Destination Weddings
Are you searching for an agent who will dedicate themselves to providing you with a customized, seamless itinerary that will meet all of your needs? Or even better yet -- a team of two agents with many years of experience traveling and booking trips and who will always go the extra mile for you? Then look no further. We are an experienced husband-and-wife team who believes in providing top-flight, even concierge-level services to our clients.
Recently, for example, we booked a river cruise for a client that sailed from Switzerland. We always recommend that our clients experience the cities that they'll be embarking and disembarking from. And, so, our clients decided they wanted to do a walking tour of Switzerland before their cruise. We knew that Switzerland can be a bit complicated, so we mapped out a walking tour in the mountains for them that then took them to their embarkation area. Figuring out this particular itinerary required quite a bit of extra work, but it's always worth it to us when we can fulfill a client's wishes. On another occasion, we got a call at 2 a.m. from a client who had lost their important travel documents while in Spain. We immediately went to work on getting them a replacement passport and airline tickets.
We have two main areas that we specialize in: river cruises and destination weddings. As river cruise travel agents, we enjoy taking these types of trips ourselves. We have been on 10 different river cruise itineraries around the world, including but not limited to:
- Vietnam: 2 different rivers
- China, the Yangtze
- Douro River, Portugal
- Budapest to Amsterdam
- Southern France
- Venice, Italy
- The Mississippi on a sternwheeler
To supplement our personal experiences, we have taken part in all of the major river cruise companies' specialist programs and have also attended vendor training whenever possible.
Another area we specialize in is destination weddings. We had been the sole Canadian representative for Destination.weddings.com for a number of years. As such, we have arranged more than 130 destination weddings across Canada in the Caribbean area: Riviera Maya, Saint Lucia, Dominican Republic and Jamaica being our favourite destinations!
We also visit resorts in different parts of the Caribbean once or twice a year, so that we can make personal recommendations that we truly believe in to our clients who are looking for an all-inclusive vacation, either family-oriented or adult-only.
And, finally, we also specialize in theme park vacations. We have visited Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Universal Studios numerous times and have stayed at a variety of on-site hotels to be able to compare with off site accommodations.
So, when you're ready to book your next getaway down south, coach tour in Europe or destination wedding or need to speak with an experienced river cruise agent, please contact us. We would love to show you how special our services truly are.
Please note: we do not book flights alone unless with established clients.
Testimonials
Cruise Tour on the Nile - Trip of a Lifetime!
"I would like to thank you and AlmonTravel for making my dream wedding come true. You were amazing! You did everything you said and worked very hard to get us anything we wanted. Everything went along smoothly here and at the resort. I will definitely recommend you to all my friends and family. Thank you again."
Jason and Samantha
I have used the services of AlmonTravel for many years and each trip booked through this agency has been a dream come true whether it was a small river cruise on the Nile or ziplining in Kuaui, Hawaii. If you are looking for a travel agency that erases the frustration and time consuming effort of planning a trip anywhere in the world, look no more, it is AlmonTravel!
Sharry
My Areas of Expertise
Mississippi river cruise on American Queen
With - at the time - five off-North America River cruises under our belts, we decided to try something a bit closer to home. Residing in Largo, close to St. Petersburg, Florida, we drove the eight hours along the Florida panhandle to New Orleans. Staying in a hotel close to the... Read more from my Mississippi river cruise on American Queen story.
Disney Vacations
Hi Jason and Alicia - I am still agog at two young parents taking such a young family to Disney - oldest at the time about 6! You are doing something right in your personal planning of daily routines. Glad I could help set up the basics for you all. Now, a cruise on one of Disney's fine ocean liners might be something to consider... We have been on two Disney cruises - western and eastern Caribbean...
2 week Europe river cruise
The river cruise was as much - and more - than we expected. All went well through the locks though we were told there might be problems with later sailings with water levels.
I think we were only tied up beside other ships twice in 2 weeks.
The food was excellent - I gained 5 pounds which I am gradually shedding now!
Our accommodations on board were great as well. All the sights on the tours were wonderful - as were the many and varied guides we had along the way. I also really appreciated the free time they allowed us at various spots, with shuttle buses if we were a distance from city centre.
Great entertainment both off and on board.
Thanks again for looking after everything. The drive in from the Budapest airport was really welcome and I enjoyed the GoSiteSee app as well as the wonderful little cake you arranged for us on board.
All the details that make for a perfect travel agent!
Hi Mary Louise: Coming from a tour guide perspective, yourself, I am pleased that the arrangements for your wonderful Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise went off well. The river cruise company, as well as ourselves at AlmonTravel, want everything to go perfectly so that all you are left with is very pleasant memories! Danny & Debbie
Our wonderful Danube river cruise
We really enjoyed our Danube cruise. Disappointing with the low water levels but we understand "Mother Nature" and really appreciate the future travel credit you were able to get for our next cruise.
It was great meeting you both! And thanks again for your thoughtfulness!
Hi Gary and Alice: You have been great clients, recognizing that Mother Nature can, unfortunately create problems when it comes to water levels on the river. Happy that you were able to take good enjoyment from the cruise. Glad we were able to assist in getting a future travel credit for an upcoming cruise. Danny & Debbie
Your help with our trips
Again our many thanks and appreciation. Judy
Hi Judy and Bryan Thank you for your ongoing relationship as client/agent. It's true that as we get to know clients like yourselves, the relationship becomes much more personal and it makes our efforts on your behalf to be more than just professional but also to be sure that our "friends" have a wonderful time away. Danny & Debbie
Destination Wedding Mexico
We are happy that B and A have gotten in touch with you. As soon as I heard that they were interested in having a wedding destination of their own, I was excited to tell them about our experience with the great work you did for us. I know that you will give them the knowledge and support that they will need to make their wedding plans as "stress-free" as possible! ...
Thank you for all your help planning our wedding (Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya) and honeymoon (El Dorado Royale). We, and our guests, had a fabulous time!
)
Thanks, Jen and Charlie: I was so surprised after our talks back and forth that you came back with the names and booking information for 50+ people. Made my job much easier. And thank you for the recommendation - our job becomes so much easier - and more successful - when happy clients pass our names along. Danny
Destination Wedding in Jamaica
We could never thank you enough for all your hard work, time and effort. All of our guests spoke very highly of your efficiency and friendly manner.
We would recommend you very highly and deeply appreciate all you have done for us.
Thank you.
Amanda and Justin - it was our pleasure not only to help you both with your wedding but also to treat your guests with the same courtesy and professionalism as we did with you. Thank you for your kind comments Danny
Many trips... much pleasure!
Over the last 10 to 15 years I have engaged Debbie and Danny of AlmonTravel to book a number of vacations including a cruise/land trip to Hawaii, a river cruise in France, a luxury resort vacation in Mexico and a Disney cruise in the Eastern Caribbean. Each of these trips was arranged with professionalism but also with a personal touch. Everything was taken care of from flights to shuttle transportation to excursions. I especially enjoyed the trip to Hawaii where Deb and Dan arranged a number of excursions including the Pearl Harbour Memorial, the Dole Pineapple Plantation, a traditional luau and a helicopter tour of the island of Kauai. If you are looking for a travel agency to meet all your needs, both professional and personal, I would strongly recommend AlmonTravel.
Rob Ferguson
Bedford, Nova Scotia
Many thanks, Rob, for your review. We are happy that you have found our services of value. We try, especially with inexperienced travellers, to ensure that the parts of their trip are seamlessly put together so that you only have to be concerned about enjoying yourself. I think we have been successful! Hope we can help you plan your next adventure! Danny
Our Vacation down south
Danny is a true professional - I would recommend him for any travel booking, but especially for organizing a group trip or wedding!
Destination wedding - Riviera Maya
Thank you so much for playing such an important role in our wedding; we truly could not have done it without you! Gracias!!
We really appreciate the incredible support you gave us, along with your wisdom and expertise. Our wedding turned out beautifully and exceeded our expectations,
It was an absolute pleasure working with you!
We wish you all the best.
Hi Joe and Dana: Glad we were able to help. Also glad to be able to assist with your dietary concerns. And thank you for sharing your pictures with us! Danny
Fantastic Disney Cruise
We wanted to thank you for all your efforts in helping to plan our family vacation on the Disney Magic. It was an amazing trip and we had so much fun! We met some of our favourite Disney/Marvel characters, enjoyed great shows every evening, wonderful food and a perfect day at Castaway Cay!
This was our first cruise and we are hooked...
Can't wait to do another cruise some day soon.
Thank you again for helping to make our family vacation a perfect one!
Hi Janet and Don: I am happy that your experience on your Disney cruise went well. "Disney does it right" regardless of whether it is a Disney property or a Disney cruise, but a cruise compacts a lot of the wonderful experiences into a smaller space making it easier to enjoy much of what Disney offers (character sightings and meals as well as a full Disney good time) We would love to help you to plan your next travel experience. Danny & Debbie
Destination wedding Mexico
Everything at the Sirenis for the wedding was EXCELLENT. The two wedding planners that assisted us from the time of check in were awesome and so helpful. They discretely stayed at the reception until it was over and then rode in the cart with the first group to leave (at around 10:30 p.m.). I couldn't say enough good about them.
Thanks so much for all your hard work and assistance throughout.
Thanks, Sue. It was a pleasure working with your daughter Kym and Dylan for their wedding.
Destination wedding - last minute change of venue
Ben and I would like to thank you for all of your help and advice with planning our wedding in Mexico. We'd also like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your speedy and calm re-organization of all our guests to Jamaica when we experienced the need to change countries. We had an amazing time and it couldn't have been any more perfect!
Hi Ben and Christina: At times we have emergency situations arise that require plans to change - even drastically! Moving a wedding to a new resort can be a difficult thing: moving to a new country took a lot of work but I am pleased that you were happy with the results. Danny
Wonderful Vacation in Punta Cana
Oh yes, we will be in contact with you again on our next trip.
Hi Frances and Gerard Thank you for your comments. When our clients do not have much experience in travelling it is so important to ensure they are prepared as best we can for the experience. Glad you had such a great time and hope we can help you again in future. Danny & Debbie
Mexico Destination wedding
We would like to thank you again for all your hard work in helping us plan for Anna's wedding. It was a long process and we appreciate your patience and kindness over this period.
I'm thinking that our file won the "quantity of emails award" for Almon Travel!
Planning flights, transfers and accommodations for people all over the world would present many challenges and you met each one!
It was a fabulous destination wedding and we appreciate your expertise.
Thank you again.
Hi Sandy and Jerry: It was quite a job to accommodate 60+ guests from Australia, the US and Britain as well as from across Canada but it all worked out well in the end. Glad you - and Anna and Mitch were happy. And thank you for your gift card: it was much appreciated! Danny & Debbie
our destination wedding
The trip and the wedding were amazing and so stress free. Our friends and family had a great trip and some are planning to return.
We also wanted to thank both of you for all of your hard work and putting up with my many questions.You made our travel arrangements and those of our friends and family a breeze, especially for the first time travellers in the group. I will definitely recommend both of you to anyone planning future weddings or trips down south
Hi Elky and Kory Thank you for your kind comments. We have done enough destination weddings (105) so that we have a good understanding of what to prepare for and what to expect and try to ensure that your communications with the resort and wedding coordinator are clearly communicated. I am glad that you both - as well as your guests - were happy with the experience, You recommendation to others is highly valued! Danny & Debbie
Our destination wedding
Thanks so much for ALL your advice, patience, time, energy, etc., etc....
HARD WORK putting our wedding together! It was great- much thanks to you! And thanks also for the wonderful Scotch and ice wine. It was very kind of you, and we love local gifts! Nyja
PS Everyone thought you were so nice and professional... thank you!
What a challenge we gave you! Too bad "repeat customers" is not a good thing for destination weddings, but we are praising your professionalism to everyone. Thanks and be well... George
Hi Nyja and George You chose one of the nicest destinations - and resorts - in the Caribbean for your 65-guest destination wedding at Beaches Turks and Caicos. I don't know if you were aware but we booked a special 2 day trip to T & C to inspect this resort for you and came back enthusiastically sure that it was the right spot for you! It turns out our trip was well worth the effort! All the best to you both. Danny & Debbie
First - but not last - river cruise
The hotel in Nuremberg was lovely and a perfect location with its proximity to the old part of the city. The hotel in Budapest was good too. Old and elegant mixed with all the modern updates.
It was a bit of a walk to the main tourist area but that was not a problem for Nick and me. We could not have asked for better service. Reception staff were very helpful and spoke excellent English. Even gave us breakfast lunches to bring with us to the airport!
The flights you chose for us worked very well. The return flight was so much easier when we didn't have to backtrack through Toronto to Halifax.
Thank you also for the gift of yummy chocolates in the cabin - a sweet touch!
Linda and Nick
Linda and Nick - thank you. We strive to ensure that all will go as planned when you cross the Atlantic. And if there are potential concerns, we warn our clients ahead of time so they won't be surprised. Glad that things went well and that you both enjoyed yourselves. River cruising, as you know, is one of our particular specialties. We have done several in Europe, one on the Mississippi, 2 in Vietnam and one in Venice. Would love to help you with a trip to your next river cruise destination!
Jamaica Destination wedding
Thank you for all your help in arranging our wedding in Jamaica. Your time was greatly appreciated. Best wishes for a wonderful summer.
DR Destination Wedding
Hi Danny & Debbie Thank you for helping us plan our wedding at Ocean Blue, DR. It was a pleasure working with you: you made it all happen and our guests had a wonderful time! Peter and Monique
Thank you, Monique and Peter. Destination Weddings have become our specialty and our multiple visits to inspect resorts at each destination play a large part in our success in finding the best and most suitable resort for our clients. Glad everything went so well!
General travel
Thanks, Dorothy - we DO like to experience the destinations we sell. Makes it much easier to speak from experience for our clients.
Destination wedding in Dominican Republic
First off, both Craig and myself had an absolutely wonderful wedding/honeymoon… it couldn’t have went better, and you were a big part of all the help. Because of all your wonderful help, things went very smoothly while we were down there…. I didn’t even have to think once about contacting you for help.
It hasn’t even been a month since we’ve returned from the Dominican but we’ve already received our wedding certificate, which is soooooo fantastic… I wasn’t expecting it for a couple of months.
Craig and I have already said that doing a destination wedding is now the way to go… once we got there it was so stress-free, we would definitely recommend doing a DW to our friends. I’ve already let someone I know about destination weddings and gave her your name… if you don’t mind. I would be happy to refer you to anyone that asks me about doing a destination wedding.
Once again, truly… thank you so much!
Celine (and Craig) Setting things up is the most difficult part of the destination wedding process. And us keeping in close contact with the wedding coordinator on site is also key to success. Glad to know that you took pleasure in your resort wedding... and stay. And thank you for the reference - nothing better than having a satisfied client recommending us to others! Danny
Wonderful expereince in Ireland
Our tour guide Brian was wonderful. The history that we learned from him was very informative.
Once Faye & I got used to the language... Loved the accent.
Also all the excursions were top notch: we even managed to kiss the Blarney Stone. The Cliffs of Moher were astounding: even the little bit of rain we had did not take away from the awesomeness of it.
Thanks for your part in making this a reality for me. It was a trip my husband (Art) & I planned on doing.
So happy I did it! So thanks again??
Louise
So happy that you and Faye had a great time, Louise! Collette is a great touring company - has been around for over 100 years but is not as well known as some of the other fine Coach tour companies out there. But they do it right, including the flight arrangements and door to door pick-up and drop-off at your home. Louise, I would be most pleased if I can help you with any other "bucket list trips" - or in fact ANY holiday ideas you may have.
Trip of a lifetime - South Africa
Our Africa trip was wonderful!
The stay on board the Zambezi Queen (river cruise) was awesome. It is not really a cruise per se, as the ship doesn't travel far and is very affected by any wind. It is essentially a luxury floating boutique hotel. Only 28 guests on board, 30 staff! There are plenty of opportunities to take side trips so no chance of boredom. We were extremely lucky to get 4 nights as most guests had only 2 or 3. The animals coming to drink at riverside were outstanding - seems like only a hand reach away!
The guide we had in Zimbabwe (Ernest) to take us to Victoria Falls was outstanding! We had 2 guides in South Africa one of which from Capetown to Port Elizabeth was also outstanding - organized, informative, pleasant, etc. On the whole, accommodations were first class Sylvain and Rita
Hi Sylvain and Rita Thank you for your comments - they actually motivated us to make a similar trip ourselves and I agree completely with your views. Africa is a bucket list trip for clients and your thoughts - plus our new-found personal experience - will help us in future to aid new clients looking at this exotic destination. Now... you were talking about Egypt.. one of my top destinations!
Panama Canal cruise
Going through the Panama Canal was amazing! We sat on our balcony all day.
Thanks for all your help. I know I was a "pain" not having a computer...
Hi Eleanor: We have to be able to help clients regardless of their technical expertise -glad that we were able to help you get to your "defining moment" in The Panama canal! Danny
Destination wedding at Beaches Turks and Caicos
Thank you both so much for everything you did to make our wedding vacation a success. We could not have asked for a more beautiful wedding and the resort - Beaches Turks and Caicos - was perfect.
We could not have done it without your help.
Thank you as well for the kind and generous wedding gift.
Thought you might enjoy a picture of the gang on the beach at the wedding.
Hi Mari and Aaron: Beaches Turks and Caicos is one of our favourite resorts in the Caribbean and a wonderful location for a destination wedding. I am glad the prep work we did with the wedding coordinators resulted in a very satisfying experience for you both. Thank you for the pictures: great to see the group having a wonderful time! Danny & Debbie
Our family vacation in Riviera Maya
Danny has also helped me with my own travel plans.
I find AlmonTravel very accommodating and knowledgeable and they go beyond to satisfy our needs.
Hi Anita: Thank you for being a "regular client"! Qualifying a client as to their needs is sooo important when making recommendations... and visiting lots of resorts to inspect them helps us to be able to make specific recommendations that really fit. So glad you enjoyed yourselves. Danny & Debbie
Riviera Maya wedding trip
I want to thank you for making my trip to Cancun to Anna and Mitch's wedding such a lovely experience. Everything was so nice. It was my first "vacation" in four years and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
Thank you, once again. If memories will make a happy marriage, then Anna and Mitch should have a long, loving and happy life!
Hi Elaine Thank you or your kind words. Although the focus of a destination wedding needs to be on the couple, all the guests travelling are deserving of our acute attention as well. I am happy that enjoyed yourself. Danny & Debbie
Wonderful Mississippi paddle wheel river cruise
One of these amazing adventures was the cruise along the Mississippi River on the American Queen. Not only was the décor of the ship luxurious, it was period-sensitive allowing you to be transported into historical deep south US. Imagine setting sail on a paddlewheeler while “I Wish I Were in Dixie” is being played on a calliope! Another highlight of this cruise was the variety of excursions. These day trips were customized to entrench visitors in the cultural history of the south whether by walking the grounds of a plantation or the civil war battlefield of Vicksburg.
Prior to the cruise, Dan planned a 2 day stay in “Nawlins”, where we had some time to relax after traveling and to experience the vibrancy of this notable southern city.
Thank you, Sharry This experience of which you write has stood out in my mind as well - more for the make-up of the ship than anything else. I agree with you that being onboard the ship brought back the time of Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn: all notable in the history of the deep southern USA. The tours by bus that followed the ship along the river offered excellent opportunities to explore the various towns (and mansions) we visited