Central Travel - Administration
4540 Heatherdowns Blvd
Toledo OH 43614
Office Phone: 419-897-2070
800-633-5577
Kathy Braker, LS
Interests & Specialties
Kathy has been with Central Travel for 23 years and has traveled extensively. Her true passion is helping couples plan the perfect Honeymoon or Destination Wedding! She has planned many wedding and honeymoon trips to Las Vegas, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. She can facilitate the renewal of vows for that special anniversary too. She loves to help clients with their romantic dream trips!
In addition to being a Sandals Certified Specialist, she holds a Honeymoon & Destination Wedding (LS) designation and a Spa Specialist (LS) designation from The Travel Institute. Kathy is also a graduate of Disney's College of Knowledge. She has also completed the BVI Tourist Board and Jamaica training and is a Princess Cruise Commodore. Kathy is located in the Promenade Shops office on Monroe Street in Sylvania, OH.
Expert Bio
Kathy has experienced many of the islands of the Caribbean. She has traveled to Punta Cana, Jamaica, Barbados, Mustique, St. Thomas, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia. In addition, she has spent time in the gorgeous destinations of the Riviera Maya and Ixtapa in Mexico. Kathy has also enjoyed the exquisite beauty of Maui and Oahu in Hawaii. Many of the resorts she has visited offer perfect honeymoon and anniversary packages, and she can help you find the one that is right for you!
Whether you are interested in a Destination Wedding, Honeymoon, or a Special Anniversary trip, Kathy can help you make it the perfect and memorable romantic event!
MY ADVENTURES
Sandals Emerald Bay
Deep within the idyllic waters of the Exumas, Sandals Emerald Bay brings unprecedented luxury to the easy-going rhythms of the Bahamian Out Islands. This luxury Bahamas resort is a privileged enclave, designed to ensure you'll feel like you're the only ones there, where service reigns supreme and Bahamian-style architecture of elegant villas and suites harmonize with nature.
The resort was absolutely gorgeous. I was stunned by the beauty of the water there – a million shades of green and blue. The beach is a mile long, and unspoiled. There are 249 rooms, suites and villas, but they are spread throughout the meticulously manicured resort. The result is tropical of course, but very Zen and natural. There is actually a Zen garden overlooking the beach; very quiet and surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. No surprise that it is very popular for weddings!
More Adventures from Kathy Braker, LS ...
RIU Palace Peninsula
The resort was first class all the way, and absolutely gorgeous. Unlike the other RIUs I’ve been to that typically have a Spanish colonial influence; the décor at this one is modern and very chic. The result is an almost ZEN ambiance. Color theme of the resort throughout is aubergine, fuchsia, and marble.
We were given a junior suite ocean view (actually all of the rooms are ocean view) that featured an integrated lounge area with a sofa bed and large balcony. There is a Jacuzzi tub literally in the middle of the room, between the bed and the vanity area, with no privacy whatsoever. In fact, only the room with the toilet had a door. This did not bother us, but I wouldn’t sell this resort without mentioning it to a prospective client, because all of the rooms at this resort are this way. We were on the 9th floor; floor 10 and above is considered an upgrade because of the spectacular view of the pools and ocean, but quite honestly, our view was pretty spectacular!
I have always associated RIU resorts with cleanliness and great service, but in my opinion, the Peninsula far exceeded my expectations in both of these areas! Likewise, I have associated RIUs with passable but mediocre food at best. Well at the Peninsula I could not have been more wrong! I was blown away; the food was fabulous, with lots of variety in every single restaurant – even lobster, and filet mignon which honestly tasted like Mancys! There are 6 specialty restaurants (as well as the “Capuchino” Coffee bar/patisserie & ice cream parlor; delicious!) in addition to the International Buffet, which was actually amazing!
I recently attended The “Love Elevated Wedding Symposium” in Saint Lucia. This 4-day program brought together local and international experts in the fields of destination wedding planning: retail, photography, catering, and travel. It was the perfect opportunity to get answers to all my questions about hosting the perfect wedding on Saint Lucia. I was able to see the many sides of Saint Lucia—from its destination resorts to landmark sites to the tropical rainforests that can serve as an idyllic backdrop to a memorable wedding. The St Lucia Tourist even planned a “mock wedding” – perfect to the last detail at the Pigeon Island National Landmark!
Saint Lucia is the perfect destination for an unforgettable and romantic wedding or honeymoon! No other island in the world is so completely dedicated to couples in love.
Recently I visited Las Vegas as a guest of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. As a Destination Wedding Specialist, I was invited to observe firsthand why over 100,000 weddings are held there each year! I discovered that you can have your ceremony performed by Elvis at the Viva Las Vegas Chapel, go high style in the chapel at Ravella at Lake Las Vegas, or choose anything in between. A wedding ceremony in Vegas is only limited by the imagination.
Weddings in Vegas are custom-fit for any budget, any taste and any couple. One of the most fabulous venues in Las Vegas is at the chapel at the Mandarin Oriental. The premier event, the Ultimate Luxury Wedding, begins at $100,000. However, with this package, the bride receives a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes and a diamond pendant from Harry Winston, in addition to 2 toasting goblets from Baccarat! On the other end of the spectrum, one of the loveliest weddings we had a chance to peek in on was a “Sunkissed Love” ceremony at the Tropicana (voted Best Vegas Wedding Chapel 8 years in a row), and packages start at $800.00! A wedding in Las Vegas is sure to leave any couple with lasting memories.
My husband and I recently vacationed at “Couples Swept Away” in Negril Jamaica; what a fabulous, relaxing getaway! The beach at Swept Away is second to none with powdery sand and sparkling teal waters. We pretty much staked our claim under some palm trees and enjoyed the view and atmosphere. Of course, we also enjoyed the pools and the swim up bar as well, and the Jacuzzis on the property as well! We enjoyed the complimentary "Sunset Catamaran" tour to Rick's Cafe and swam in the caves, what a wonderful experience!Couples is the real deal when it comes to "all-inclusive." The food was phenomenal and the drinks were all top shelf. Our favorite restaurant was "Lemon Grass" (a high-end indoor/outdoor Thai restaurant). We dined there on our last night next to the beautiful tiki torches that framed a view of the stunning sunset. We also loved “Feathers”, which is an upscale continental restaurant. It was such a beautiful relaxing vacation! Couples Swept Away is perfect! It is everything you need and want: laid back, true Caribbean feel, rustic but very nice and clean, it is a beautiful and a great place to vacation! And the sunsets are spectacular!
Once again I had the opportunity to visit enchanting Jamaica which is one of my favorite island paradise destinations! This was my 6th visit to the island and was fortunate to visit some of the most romantic and luxurious properties on Jamaica. It is a perfect honeymoon destination!In Montego Bay, I visited "Half Moon" resort, the "Ritz Carlton Rose Hall", and the "Grand Lido Braco". From there we went to Ocho Rios, where we perused the gorgeous grounds and accommodations at the "Sandals Royal Plantation", as well as the newly renovated "Sandals Grande Riviera Ocho Rios." From there we traveled to the south coast of Jamaica and toured "Sandals Whitehouse", which was a breathtaking property! After that, we proceeded to Negril, an area of Jamaica that is famous for its laid-back easy-going nature and fabulous beaches! The properties we visited were the secluded and private hideaway of the "Negril Beach Villa', "Grand Lido Negril", "Beaches Negril" and "Sandals Negril".
