Central Travel - Administration
4540 Heatherdowns Blvd
Toledo OH 43614
Office Phone: 419-897-2070
800-633-5577
Holly Lewandowski, CTC, DS
Interests & Specialties
Holly has been in the industry for 30+ years. Her two loves, France and cruising, are reflected in her travel history. She has traveled extensively in France, with over 30 trips. Her more than 50 cruises on 15 lines, has taken her to 50 countries, on 6 continents, 5 rivers, 2 oceans, 3 seas and 2 canals.
She has recently returned from Southeast Asia, cruising on the Diamond Princess to Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. In August, she enjoyed three weeks in France, including a full week on the beautiful island of Corsica and many days in Brussels. This experience enriched her knowledge of a region of France often forgotten by US travelers.
She has an abiding interest in music and wine ... the wonderful combination that suggests you let Holly plan your next cruise to cultural capitals of Europe, or travel through the wine country in France!
Holly Lewandowski is an independent contractor affiliated with Central Travel.
Expert Bio
More than 20 years ago Holly made her first trip to Paris. France quickly became her passion, her favorite place on earth! She is a Certified Rendez Vous en France Agent and since that first excursion, she has made nearly 30 trips to France, every trip including time in Paris. While touring in the Loire Valley, Alsace/Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux and the South of France, she has learned the culture, language and where to go and what to do.
Sharing this information with people planning their French vacation is more than a job, it's a great pleasure; and one that Holly would like to share with you. Whether you are going for pleasure or business, for the first time or 100th time; whether you want to climb the Eiffel Tower, explore chateaux and vineyards or barge the rivers and canals, please, give Holly a call. Together you can plan a perfect trip, fulfilling (and hopefully exceeding) your expectations.
Other cruise adventures include 2012 Eastern Caribbean, 2013 Hawaii & Panama Canal, 2014 Caribbean/Gulf & Mediterranean, 2015 South America and 2016 Panama Canal & Cuba.
MY ADVENTURES
The decision to leave Toledo just hours before the first big snow storm of the year was good. Even better was the decision to book our Amazon adventure on the Oceania Sirena! From the moment we set foot on the ship our highest expectations were exceeded.
For 21 days we sailed in luxury from Miami to Rio de Janeiro on a small, boutique ship. The service was impeccable, the ship was elegant, and the food? With Jacques Pepin as the executive chef, expectations were high and we weren’t the least disappointed. This is truly a foody’s cruise line, with every meal seemingly better that the one before.
I would be delighted to tell you more about this wonderful experience, and make arrangements for you to set sail for an experience of a lifetime.
More Adventures from Holly Lewandowski, CTC, DS ...
On April 21 of this year I arrived in Paris, and even though I have been there many times, I still experienced the thrill of being in France again.
On this particular trip, I had the pleasure of being with friends who had never visited this beautiful city. I was able to see Paris through new eyes, and fell in love with the city all over again. We visited all of the well known sights, as well as some hidden gems that most tourists miss.
From Paris a short train ride took us to the Loire Valley to explore the beautiful chateaux in the region. Chateaux that have been around for centuries are beautifully restored and open for touring. We based ourselves in one of the many private chateaux that welcome guests, a perfect way to unwind at the end of a day of touring. One could spend weeks trying to see them all, but sadly, we had to move on.
We drove our rental car from our chateau to Lyon, France’s third largest city, where we boarded the Emerald Liberté for a 7 day cruise on the Rhone River. We were joined by the rest of our group of 20 for a great week of touring the vineyards and small towns between Lyon and Arles.
The trip concluded in Nice, where in addition to exploring the city, we spent a glorious night in Monte Carlo, and a day in Cannes and the mountain top town of St. Paul de Vence.
There is so much more I could say about this trip and the wonders of France, but I would rather tell you in person. When your travel plans include France, I would love to help you plan the most memorable vacation. Contact me at holly@joyerianicaragua.com and we’ll get started right away!
Azamara Journey
Athens to Istanbul, September 29-October 11, 2015
With more than 50 cruises in my travel history, I can honestly say that this ship ranks among the top three. The Azamara Journey is a small (676 passengers) boutique ship with an upscale atmosphere, more like a five-star hotel than a ship. The size lends itself to providing a non-crowded, non-hurried, pampering atmosphere. Food is prepared and served elegantly, and wine is poured freely. Nights are spent leisurely, enjoying a show or quiet music in one of the many venues.
Cruise to many exotic locations aboard a beautiful ship. If you are ready to move up a step from premium cruises, this is definitely the right choice.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Viking River cruise on the Rhine River, then spent a week in the Alsace region of France, ending with 3 glorious days in Paris, my favorite city! It was a delightful experience and easy to see why this is the hottest trend in European travel. The food was excellent and virtually everything is included. We thoroughly enjoyed the various sightseeing that was included and had ample time to explore on our own.
Since I visit France at least annually, I know the rail system quite well and highly recommend it if you are traveling light. Renting a car is another option which I do frequently usually picking up and dropping off in small cities. I would be happy to share my experiences with you and create a custom European vacation that will create memories for a lifetime!
Close your eyes and imagine rolling hillsides filled with shimmering grape vines for as far as the eye can see. Now imagine wandering from village to village, where the vineyard names read like a shelf in a fine wine shop. Combine this with the extraordinary and distinct cuisine at every turn and you have Burgundy, where I started my 2-week sojourn in France last October.
For me, Burgundy is one of the most beautiful and delightful regions in all of France with a wealth of opportunities for foodies, art lovers, and history buffs alike. And if traditional touring isn’t your taste, nothing compares to barging the Burgundy Canal or biking through the vineyards on back roads and gravel paths.
But France is more than Burgundy, and after a week of self-indulgence, I headed south to Carcassonne and the Dordogne Valley to take in the man-made and natural beauties of Southern France. Driving through the countryside and visiting the small, undiscovered towns is a great way to get to know France and her people. Heading northwestward, I stopped for a day in St. Emilion before heading to the city of Bordeaux, then onward to my final destination, Paris.
Even after over 20 visits to the City of Lights, I still discovered new and interesting things to do and see, such as the newly opened Musée Jacquemart André. I left Paris, after 16 days in France, anxious to return soon, and even more anxious to share my experience and expertise with you when France is your destination.
