Offices open by APPOINTMENT ONLY, please call to visit.
About Us
Hello Travelers!
Book yourself or use a Travel Advisor?
35% of independent travelers say their hotel did not live up to their expectations.
Why have us plan your vacation?
Personalized service: One size does NOT fit all. We work with you to arrange each and every important detail based upon your specific desires.
John R. Schmitt, Jr.
President & Certified Travel Counselor
Company Overview
Why Us?
Expert guidance: We know how to select the resort, cruise or tour options for you in a very short amount of time.
Best value: We will get you the best value for your vacation dollars. NO MATTER where you look, we will have the same or better pricing.
Years of solid relations: We have over 50 years of long-standing experience. As a result, we can share the best inside deals available, saving you money.
One-stop shopping: We handle every aspect of your trip, you inevitably save precious time.
Consumer advocate: We don’t stop working for you, even after you’ve booked your trip. In the event of an unfortunate mishap, we will act on your behalf to see that restitution is made.
Guaranteed satisfaction: We strive to achieve customer satisfaction so you return the next time you’re planning a trip. We want you to be happy, long-term customers for life.
The Truth About Travel
...many online booking sites are owned by groups of the very travel suppliers they seem to be “comparing” …
Our Global Reservation system is forbidden by Federal law from having a bias in favor of a particular vendor (specific airline, hotel, or car rental company for example) nor by date or time of day, or price, something that online booking sites are NOT prohibited from doing “behind the scenes”! In fact many online booking sites are owned by groups of the very travel suppliers they seem to be “comparing” when providing you prices!
Further we can shop and compare rates and availability and can produce results for you in seconds. We eliminate your need to surf the multiple sites who likely are offering the same information simply served up in a different package.
You won’t know the difference by looking at their websites.
We can look behind the scenes and see what is really available. Not just what “needs” to be sold at that particular time for those vendors.
What the Media Says
"The average traveler is spending something like ... nine web sessions and visiting 21 websites in order to book their travel," said Mark Orwoll, an editor of Travel + Leisure magazine. "Travelers are really looking for some advice, somebody who can answer questions for them, somebody who has experience in traveling, and they can't always get that online.In an age where travelers of all ages turn to the Internet to book flight and hotel reservations, modern Travel Advisors are offering expert advice on cruises and tour packages to far-flung locales, advice on the best a particular city has to offer, exclusive perks, hidden discount prices and the security of an adviser in case of inconvenience or disaster."
"Successful advisors know that their customers have access to lots of travel information -- often too much -- and want time-saving guidance, exclusivity and security in a complicated world. Whether they can convince younger Americans who may not have ever worked with a travel advisor of that added value -- and ensure their industry's survival -- remains to be seen. You have recourse if you do not have the ability to resolve your issue with a travel advisor," he said. "It's like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval." - Katia Hetter, Special to CNN.
We Have the Cure for these Traveler's Pain Points
Our professional Travel Advisors will listen and understand your needs. Shopping and comparing options is incredibly time-consuming. Not only do we have world-wide travel experience, but our
advisors can produce results for you in seconds. We eliminate your need to surf multiple sites which likely offer the same information simply served up in a different package and in most cases, make results very difficult to compare.
Death by search - Usually hotel web sites are least helpful and don't give much of a discount or deal. Good luck calling them directly.
Transport travails - Apart from Eurail, all intra and inter country transportation web sites are nightmares.
What to see and when - At times, it is difficult to book excursion sightseeing sight unseen.
Wasted time & money - - It helps to get specific advice on what to see and do given the length of your vacation, plus realistic timeframe necessary to enjoy those suggestions.
Mistrusting online reviews - Although you read them, do you trust sites like Trip Advisor? They may not be relevant to your travel needs at all.
Lining up dates and times - One of the most frustrating things travelers deal with is getting the dates and times to line up.
How much is too much? - Can you fit everything in while balancing down time with immersion time on your trip?
Weeks and months of planning - Travelers spend 40 - 50 hours with online planning and typically begin more than 6 months out.
Our Story
The roots of the Schmitt family of travel companies dates back to 1963. Our story is simple. With real brick-and-mortar locations in Frankenmuth, Grand Blanc and Bay City, I am and our advisors are committed to making sure that your planning experience and your vacation exceeds your expectations.
When it comes to travel planning, there are simply too many options. Our advisors know the world, how to plan, and how to find your best options. Reduce your research and planning time and let us share our creative ideas to make traveling special for you. We will make your planning easier and your vacations better.
If you are not 100% satisfied with our services, please feel free to contact me personally.
John R. Schmitt, Jr., CTC.
President & Certified Travel Counselor
989.652.9977
john@frankenmuthtvl.com
Our local offices support local causes:
Food Bank of Eastern Michigan 2010 •
Children's Miracle Network 2011 •
American Cancer Society 2012 •
Wounded Warriors 2013 •
Habitat for Humanity 2014 •
Alzheimer’s 2015 •
Salvation Army 2016 •
Make a wish 2017 •
Frankenmuth Military Museum 2018 •
Humane Society 2019 •
Companies Feeding Families - Annually since 2014
We know how to select the resort, cruise or tour options for you in a very short amount of time. We will get you the best value for your vacation dollars. NO MATTER where you look, we will have the same or better pricing.
Always Real Offices, Real Advisors, Real Advice!
“We’ve gone 3 times with Frankenmuth Travel and have been satisfied each time, but was very impressed with this last drive and did appreciate the thoughtfulness and concern...”
Patricia N.
"Oh my gosh! Suzanne M has been raving (in a good way) about her Hawaii trip. She said that you did such an amazing job with everything. Some of her exact words were, "I could not find anything to complain about.". That in itself is so great to hear. You have WOWed her. Thank you so much for providing such wonderful service to our members."
Debbie L.
"...Thank you for making our Daniel O’Donnell Tour such a great experience. You do make a wonderful Tour Guide.”
Barb H.
"A group of travelers on a corporate incentive trip was returning from Jamaica in the winter of 2010. On the day of their return, the weather in the United States forced a number of closings at airports. The airline solution was to have the travelers wait at the airport until the affected airports could reopen. The client called us directly and we were able to reroute the group on an alternate route and they returned safely."
Our Staff
“...Your level of organization and attention to detail far exceeded our expectations and made for a memorable, enjoyable trip.”
Paula and Melody M.
“I went on line to a MAJOR well known website. They quoted me what I considered a reasonable price for one leg. Then, I got lazy & called... (you) sold me the whole trip for just over what the price for one leg was; a 62% savings!! And that includes your fee.”
Wink M.
"Due to expected extreme weather conditions, we were advised by the airline in advance that our clients flight for the following day was going to be cancelled. The airline offered no alternative until the weather would clear and the airport would be operational. Because our client was traveling for a special meeting, we arranged for an allowance for him to depart one day early at no charge. He made his meeting on time."
Our Staff
"We have never taken a vacation like this before. We’ve done several cruises, but never a bus trip and never a vacation that was so structured. We loved it and would do it again without hesitation."
Marylin L.
"The airline delayed a departure and presented travelers a $250 credit voucher for future travel. Our client received a credit voucher for only $50. Upon the return of her flight, our client contacted the airline with a request for commensurate credit and was denied. Our advisor intervened and within 5 days got the credit voucher increased to $250."
Our Staff
"This trip was spectacular and loved every minute with the tour group due to the comfort level it provided."
Sharon D.
"We planned an extensive 3-week cruise and land tour of Europe with a Harley-Davidson motorcycle rental. Unfortunately, our client became very ill and was forced to return early. Our advisor worked with the cruise line, hotel and motorcycle rental agency and were able to receive 100% reimbursement on the lost portion of his vacation."
Eugene P.
"A cruise was purchased with the air and transfer features included. Due to a glitch in the cruise lines system, transfer vouchers were not included in final documents. Our advisor discovered this and we were able to have the transfers provided for the travelers."
Our Staff
"We were contacted by a client who had been online and called a cruise line directly. He had the room category and price and wondered if we could offer a better value. Upon researching, we were able to offer the exact same room, category and date with a savings of $179 PER PERSON!"
Our Staff
“Thank you, thank you, thank you for organizing the greatest vacation of my life! I can't believe I called you 6 months ago and told you exactly what I was looking for and your plans exceeded my expectations! The destination and resort you chose was perfect! Never has the resort been better than the pictures! I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for making a big birthday the best ever! I will recommend you and your travel agency to everyone!”
Laurie S.
"A large party was set to go to a popular vacation resort and planned 8 months in advance. 90 days prior to arrival, the resort re-categorized the accommodations which resulted in them not getting the walk-out room as originally purchased. The resort claimed that this category was now an upgraded value and would require an additional cost. Our advisors contacted the resort and convinced them that they should and must honor the original requested room as purchased."
Our Staff
Sign up for The Travel Press
Stay current with the latest travel deals!
| Click here to join our Travel Club |