Oftentimes vacationing can ironically prove to be quite a stressful experience. Between buying airline tickets and booking hotel reservations one often finds a myriad of obstacles.

The Travelwise office

At Travelwise, Inc., however, the traveling arrangements are made easy through an array of vacation products and services that facilitate a smooth vacation experience.

Owner Ernie Lara of Travelwise

Ernie Lara, owner of Travelwise, Inc., has over 30 years of experience in the travel industry. Originally from El Salvador, Lara came to the states in 1957 to learn more about the travel industry and ended up staying permanently.

Founded in 1961, Travelwise, Inc. specializes in cruise line vacations and works in conjunction with Club Med, Tauck Tours, and other reputable vacation organizations.

In many ways a trailblazer, Lara was one of the first Certified Travel Counselors and can provide extensive vacation consulting.

"Here at Travelwise, customers can come in and we can help them plan their trip from beginning to end. The objective is to provide the customer with a vacation that meets their expectations and provide them with the kind of experience they desire," Lara said.

As a travel professional that has seen the changes in the industry ranging from automation to the Internet, Lara believes that the local travel

agency will prove even more successful because of its personalized approach and comprehensive services.

He attributes his success with his customers to the fact that the business is family owned and operated. In addition to his wife Elsa, his daughters, Eva Lara Figueredo and Elsa Lara Saavedra, serve as office manager and general manager respectively.

"We take a great deal of pride in our customer service, because that's really what drives our business. There's nothing better than when a customer stops by the office to thank us and tell us what a great vacation they had. That's the best reward any travel professional can receive," Lara said.

In order to achieve these rewards, Lara emphasizes a policy of straightforwardness with the customer.