Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 28, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The weather is getting cooler in Yellowknife, and thoughts are turning to southern destinations.

The place to go to book a vacation with the fewest hassles is a travel agency.

Jacklyn Smith helps people and companies book vacations and business trips at Key West Travel. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

Jacklyn Smith is an agent with Key West Travel and has been doing her job for more than seven years.

When asked where Yellowknifers typically want to go for their vacations, she paused to think about it.

"Where do people want to go? Anywhere."

People have their preferences though, and they're the same from person-to-person she said.

"The most common comment when people walk in or are on the phone is 'somewhere warm, happy and all inclusive,'" she said.

Smith said destinations and resorts vary among families, couples and individuals, as the choices are numerous.

"Sometimes it's hard to make up your mind what you want for summer, how are you supposed to know where you want to go for vacation?" she asked.

A travel agent can help facilitate that.

She said that they can help families find locations that will have events to keep everyone in the family entertained, or a resort for couples hoping for a bit of romance and together time.

People looking for solo vacations are easiest, however.

"Someone that's going on vacation on their own pretty much already have it mapped out," she said.

She loves getting feedback from clients when they return too, she said.

"(My favourite part) is talking with the people and hearing their stories about how the vacation went."

Among her tips to help people with their vacation are to book early enough to get some savings, she said.

If booking a vacation online, travellers have to make sure that their flights match up (don't forget different time zones), as well as book the room in the resort or hotel.

An agent can handle all of that.

"It's hassle free... and one-stop shopping," she said of her job.

The most interesting booking she's ever made was for someone to come to Yellowknife.

"I answered the phone and it was a gentleman from Australia," she said.

The man had seen a show about Yellowknife, and instead of approaching a travel agent in his country he phoned the source directly.

"He came to do a tour of the communities," she said.

Following a documentary on the ice roads in the territory, Key West received calls from the United States as well looking for information on when the best time was to come up and see the ice roads as well, said Smith.

"We're not just a travel agency we're an information centre," she said.