Local resident makes travel her business

Maricopa resident Darlene Osborn has been traveling all of her life, and travel has been her business for over 30 years.

A Province resident for the past four years, Osborn relocated from Ahwatukee where she was affiliated with South Mountain Travel for 15 years. Presently she is an agent for Your Travel Center, a large California travel company. When South Mountain Travel became part of Your Travel Center, she made the decision to become home-based in Maricopa.

Starting as a novice travel agent in 1976, Osborn bought her first agency three years later and eventually owned three travel agencies in the Los Angeles area before moving to Arizona. She was married for 49 years to her husband Tom, who passed away in 2006.

Osborn’s love of travel has taken her to many destinations around the world. She specializes in leisure travel and loves to put together special trips for her clients, using her knowledge of the destinations.

She urges people to use a travel agent whenever booking a vacation as they will get personal service and many suggestions to make the trip memorable. Best of all, the trip will be at the same or a lower price than the Internet-without all the work and hassle. Osborn follows up on each reservation, making sure everything is correct and that all documents have been received and are complete.

“Right now is a great time to travel as the travel business is feeling the pinch just as other businesses are. Some of the best buys in years are available right now,” said Osborn.

She outlined some of the travel benefits currently being offered. “Several travel companies are giving a $200 per person credit toward airfare to Hawaii if you book with them, and the hotels are giving as many as three nights free if you book four nights,” Osborn explained.

Osborn suggests Oahu for an inexpensive Hawaiian vacation, staying in Waikiki but spending time on the windward side of the island to stay away from the crowds. “This makes a great combination with all the advantages of the big city, great hotels, restaurants, etc. with days spend on quiet beaches exploring, snorkeling and surfing,” said Osborn.

Probably the very best buy right now are cruises, according to Osborn. Last week she booked a family of five in two cabins, one outside and one inside, on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines to Alaska from Seattle for $802 per person, including taxes, meals and all activities on the ship. “This vacation is hard to beat at this price, and Alaska is a great adventure for all ages. Children especially like it because it is so different from what they are used to in Arizona,” said Osborn.

She also recently booked a 14-day South American cruise for $799 per person in an outside cabin on Royal Caribbean. “That is one of the best buys I’ve ever seen,” said Osborn.

Whether you are planning a long complicated trip or just a weekend getaway, Osborn promises to work with you to be sure you are getting the best buy for your vacation dollar and also a unique and special trip. She has a large home office where she can meet with clients and a large inventory of brochures from the various cruise lines and vacation companies.

Osborn is a member of Maricopa Community Church where she is in charge of the nursery. “I need to get my baby fix once a week,” she confesses.

“I love living in Maricopa and especially enjoy Province,” she added.

Business details:

Business name: Your Travel Center–Darlene Osborn
Contact information: [email protected] or (520) 568-6512.

Photo by Joyce Hollis