Vincent Vacations
1 Room, 2 Adults
1 Room, 2 Adults
Amanda Phillips

Independent Travel Agent

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AmaWaterways is the Real Deal!

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AmaWaterways is the Real Deal!

Holland and Belgium River Cruise…

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go on a European river cruise?  I had a preconceived notion thinking this was an old person’s vacation.  Although river cruises do attract older people and accommodate those who may have mobility issues, this is definitely not an elderly cruise!  I can tell you that this was one of the most fascinating vacations I have ever been on.  The AmaStella was our vessel, or ship, and is basically like a floating hotel.  Your room is always in the same location on board so no need to pack your bags and change rooms every few days.  AmaWaterways offers a variety of cruise itineraries that will keep you interested time and time again.   Right now they are celebrating 20 years in business with some amazing prices!

We flew out a day before the cruise and did a little sightseeing in Amsterdam.  I highly recommend doing this to get acclimated to the time change.  We took a canal cruise which was interesting, but not recommended if you have jet lag!  The warm sun made my eyelids heavy and I am sure I missed a thing or two!

Saturday morning we took the Anne Frank Guided Walking Tour which took us through the Jewish Quarter. Our guide, Roza, did a great job telling us about what it was like in Amsterdam during WWII.  

One stop was at the Auschwitz Monument.  The monument is made of broken mirrors signifying that 'heaven is no longer unbroken since Auschwitz.'

The last stop of the tour was in front of the Frank house where Anne and her family survived for 761 days!  Unfortunately we did not get to go in the house, but seeing the outside of the house in person as well as renderings of the inside makes it even more remarkable that they survived there for so long.

Our first stop on the AmaStella was in Utrecht, Amsterdam.  In the morning we visited Floriada, the international horticultural exhibition.  Castle De Haar, the largest castle in the Netherlands, was where we spent the afternoon. 

Castle De Haar was once the private residence of the Van Zuylen family, whose descendants still stay here yearly. The castle also frequently hosted members of the international jet-set with their lavish lifestyle; from Coco Chanel to Roger Moore, they too left their mark on the plush rooms of the most beautiful spot in Utrecht.

Lastly, we had dinner at the chef’s table aboard the beautiful AmaWaterways, AmaStella! A wonderful experience with several passengers in a private dining room.  This is available for all guests at least one night on the cruise. Delicious!

It's a good trip when you can't remember what day of the week it is while on vacation! On Tuesday, June 28th we were in Ghent, Belgium!  A beautiful and quaint city with so much to offer!  Our day started by visiting the St. Bavo Cathedral and the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. The Ghent Altarpiece, or ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by the Van Eyck brothers, completed in 1432, is recognized worldwide as a great work of art, and one of the most influential paintings ever made. Hubert van Eyck painted part of the Ghent Altarpiece that includes the Mystic Lamb, but was never able to finish it. His younger brother Jan, completed this masterpiece a few years after Hubert’s death.

This church was originally named Saint John the Baptist in 942.  The diocese of Ghent was founded in 1559 and the church became St Bavo's Cathedral.

After this, we had free time to explore.  We ate waffle fries, bought and tasted some chocolate, visited the smallest bar in Ghent (which used to be a jail) and then off to visit the Gravenstein Castle.  The moated castle was built by Count Phillip of Alsace in 1180.  I am so impressed with how well these castles have stood the test of time.  When I think about how long ago they were built with no modern way of constructing such a large building, it really is amazing!

One of our days was spent at the Battle of the Bulge site.  What rich history is here in Belgium!  The perspective of this museum is one of great appreciation of the United States and what they did to save their country during World War II.  Our tour guide was a walking encyclopedia!  He had so much knowledge of World War II and how each country became involved.

The photos below are from the museum, the actual battle field where foxholes still exist, a memorial to the 101st Airborne Division, memorials to honor General Patton and General McAuliffe.  The people of Belgium are incredibly grateful to the United States and paid to have these memorials in their country.

Our day in Antwerp was spent participating in a walking tour of the city and ending our time with a Belgium beer tour!  We saw the beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady, Steen’s Castle, Grote Market and Brabo Fountain.  This particular city paid homage to the Virgin Mary.  Citizens from long ago would place a statue of the Virgin Mary on a light post so they would not have to pay taxes!  Some statues were elaborate and some very simple, but all placed for the same reason.  We ended our day with a beer tour tasting local beers.  Some were good, others not so much!  After all that beer, I finally found my Belgium waffle!  It was delicious!

The last day was in a small beautiful harbor town called Dordrecht.  I was in awe of this beautiful community.  We walked the city streets learning all about the rich history and sightseeing the amazing homes and businesses.  Dordrecht is Holland’s oldest city, being founded in 1220.  The last tour of the day was visiting the iconic windmills in Kinderdijk.  This small town is known for having the largest concentration of windmills dating back to the 18th century.  The first windmill still exists today!  What I found so interesting is that the windmills are used to pump water back to the sea to keep the town from flooding.  We climbed inside a windmill to see how it works and received some interesting information from a “miller” who is someone who operates the windmill.  

 

If you are now inspired to find an AmaWaterways river cruise that fits your interests, please contact me at [email protected] or 918-645-9524.  


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Back by popular demand! Download our FREE ULTIMATE Guide to AmaWaterways. We are an AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist Agency, ready to create your perfect itinerary! Our over 120 page page guide to river cruising through Europe, Asia & Africa. The latest on ships, new destinations and itineraries. More information about their award winning fleet, RHINE CASTLES & SWISS ALPS, VINEYARDS OF THE RHINE & MOSELLE, ESSENCE OF BURGUNDY & PROVENCE, AFRICA SAFARIS & WILDLIFE CRUISE

Amanda Phillips

AmaWaterways is the Real Deal!

OKC Travel Agent Near Me

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Planning a vacation with young kids shouldn’t feel overwhelming and it definitely shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. I’m an independent travel advisor, a mom of 2-year-old twins (Tanner + Taylor…aka double the fun and double the chaos), and for the past 20+ years, I’ve been the go-to for planning unforgettable family vacations. But becoming a mom completely changed how I approach travel because traveling with kids is a whole different experience. Nap schedules, stroller logistics, kid-friendly dining, choosing resorts that are actually designed for families; not just labeled that way I...  Read More >>>

An expert destination wedding travel agent near me with five star luxury travel packages with a luxury travel company, Vincent Vacations.


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My Areas of Expertise

Learn more about destinations, interests, and supplier partners for online travel agent Amanda Phillips.

Destinations

Interests

  • Adult Only
  • Adventure
  • All Inclusive
  • Babymoons
  • Bachelorette Parties Girlfriend Getaways
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Supplier Partners

12 Certificates & Awards

Certified Family Travel Association Agent
Certified Family Travel Association Agent

Norwegian Cruise Line Associate Degree
Norwegian Cruise Line Associate Degree

Jamaica Travel Specialist
Jamaica Travel Specialist

5 Reviews & Success stories

So Helpful Before Our Trip!
So Helpful Before Our Trip!

We recently took our family of four to Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, and Amanda was incredibly helpful in preparing us for the experience. All of the information and documents she gave us ahead of time were accurate and made us feel much more prepared for our visit!

We loved that Minions Land and SpongeBob Land were available for Early Entry. The crowds were pretty low during our visit, which was wonderful for our family. One day, a few attractions were closed because of lighter crowds, but since we had already experienced everything the day before, it wasn’t a big deal for us.

One of our favorite unexpected finds was the theater in Trolls Village. It plays short clips from the shows, but it was also a great place to escape the heat. There were bean bags and benches, and we were able to sit in the air conditioning for about 30 minutes while the kids rested. There were only a couple of other families in there, so it was a great little hidden gem!

The kids also loved all of the Team Members throughout the park who had little games and activities where they could earn stickers. They had so much fun seeing how many stickers they could collect.

A few things we would recommend for other families: bring hats and plenty of sunscreen! There isn't a lot of shade throughout the park, and although there are plenty of benches, many of them are in the sun. We also loved the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines throughout the park because they made it incredibly easy to refill our water bottles.

Since there isn't currently an app like some of the other Universal parks, we asked Team Members about character appearances and Gabby dance times rather than relying only on the posted signs. Everyone we talked to was extremely helpful and gave us great information about when and where to find specific characters.

We even had a major technology/power issue during our visit that temporarily shut down almost the entire park, but the Team Members worked quickly to get everything back up and running. It didn't ruin our trip at all!

We had such a great time that we're already talking about having the grandparents take us back around Christmas instead of buying the kids a bunch of toys they don't need! 😂

Thank you, Amanda, for helping us plan such a fun family trip and for giving us information that made our visit even easier. We'll definitely reach out when we're ready to plan our next adventure!
-Kristi W.

Vegas for my 60th!!!
Vegas for my 60th!!!

Planning a 60th birthday celebration in Las Vegas for five people could have been overwhelming, but TNT Travel Mom with Vincent Vacations made the entire experience absolutely seamless!


From the very beginning, Amanda listened to exactly what I wanted and took care of all the details. She arranged our nonstop flights to and from Las Vegas, our accommodations at The Venetian and Palazzo, private check-in through the Prestige Package, airport transportation, and even helped us secure floor seats at the Sphere for the Eagles concert. Having everything handled through one travel professional was truly a lifesaver and saved me so many headaches.


When we arrived at the hotel and saw the very long lines for check-in, I was especially grateful that Amanda had arranged our private check-in. It was absolutely worth it! Having access to a private lounge with breakfast, snacks, and happy hour drinks was such a wonderful added touch.


We had five people traveling, with some staying at The Venetian and others at Palazzo, and having the two connected made everything so convenient. We also enjoyed access to the pools, dining, and happy hour options at both properties. There were so many pools to choose from, and having all those amenities available made the stay even more enjoyable.


Amanda also arranged our transportation to and from the airport, and every driver was professional and great at communicating with me throughout the trip. That extra level of coordination gave me peace of mind and allowed me to simply enjoy celebrating with my friends.


My only suggestion would be for the hotel to improve the appetizers offered in the lounge, but overall, the experience was amazing.


This trip was truly a wonderful experience from start to finish, and the best part was having no hassle and no stress. Amanda took care of the details so I could focus on celebrating my 60th birthday and making memories with my friends.


I will absolutely use TNT Travel Mom for every trip I take moving forward. She  has definitely earned my business!


Thank you for doing such an amazing job taking care of me and my friends. You made my 60th birthday celebration one I will always remember!


-Mrs. Walters

Multigenerational Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen
Multigenerational Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen

Our multigenerational family trip to Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen was absolutely amazing from start to finish!

The resort itself is beautiful, and the staff truly made the experience unforgettable. Everyone was so kind and welcoming; our young adults even made friends with the event staff, which made the trip extra special for all of us. It felt like we were more than just guests.

We upgraded to the Preferred Club, and it was 100% worth it. The added amenities and service really elevated our stay. The food was incredible; honestly a 10/10! I don’t think I’ve ever eaten so much guacamole in my life… I had it at nearly every meal, even breakfast!

While the drinks weren’t our favorite, everything else far exceeded our expectations. Overall, it was an incredible experience, and we made memories we’ll never forget.

Thank you for helping us plan such a special trip for our family; we couldn’t have asked for a better vacation!
-Brittani M

4 Reviews

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