Kerry Berlinquette - The Travel Agent Next Door Thunder Bay

09/14/2026

Do you go to a lounge when you have more than 3 hours in an airport?

I have had a few folks ask me about lounge passes for long waits in airports...

There are a few options:

Maple Leaf Lounge - passes available for Air Canada passengers for purchase at time of booking or during online check in 24 hours prior to departure for guests travelling on FLEX fares or higher- cost varies.
https://www.aircanada.com/.../maple-leaf-lounges.html

OR

Plaza Premium Lounge- available to anyone-
https://www.plazapremiumlounge.com/.../toronto-pearson
Cost is typically $60- $80 per person. Some premium credit cards include lounge passes- check yours before you travel!

OR

If you have a long layover and just wish you were laying in a cozy bed or working at a quiet desk, try Dayuse.com which offers close-to-the-airport hotel rooms for the morning, afternoon, or full day, at a fraction of the nightly rate- a great way to relax away from the airport.

OR

You can grab a drink, natter with your friends, and people watch until it is GO time :-)

So many options... so much time hahaha...

09/09/2026

Make the layover in Toronto part of your journey!

DID YOU KNOW that you can get a reduced "long layover rate" on the Union Pearson Express ... Adults can enjoy a return fare of just $12.35, while families can travel round-trip for only $25.70. This fare is valid for travel within a convenient 7-hour period.

Drop your carry on bag at the baggage lockers at Union Station, and visit the CN Tower / Tour CN, wander the Distillery District... get some steps in before your long flight!

I am LOVING this idea-- check out the details by visiting the site below !

Use UP Express to explore Canada’s largest city on your next layover in Toronto.

08/20/2026

I take great joy in elevated travel experiences.

My joy is tenfold when I can find an elevated travel experience at a fabulous value.

Today I booked a Scenic river cruise for Spring 2027 for clients, and because The Travel Agent Next Door has a promotion running this month, I was able to secure a rather spectacular deal.

14 nights. Budapest to Amsterdam.

A smidge under $6,500 CAD per person.

That works out to roughly $463 CAD per person, per night (based on two people sharing a cabin) for your accommodation, food, drinks, excursions and experiences.

In other words… a fully inclusive, immersive river cruise through Europe.

That, my friends, is a DEAL.

If you've been thinking about river cruising in 2027, let me know.

Selected cruises, like this one, are currently 40% OFF the rates you will see online.

And you know I would not steer you wrong. 😉

In fact, I bet dollars to doughnuts that I will have found one for myself by the end of the night.

And if I do… I may just invite you to join us.

Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle sounds very much like our kind of trouble.

A little housekeeping: the deposit is due at the time of booking and the balance must be paid within 7 days.

They ain't playin'. 😂

If you're curious, message me. Let's see where we can go in 2027.

08/14/2026

Who's feeling LUCKY?

Click on the link below to enter our annual The Travel Agent Next Door contest for a FREE VACATION!

This years vacay is offered by Celebrity Cruises...
The prize will be a 7-night Cruise for Two – Caribbean – Veranda stateroom.
The winner can choose from all Celebrity ships when sailing in the Caribbean.
The prize also includes a pair of round-trip tickets, in economy class, for travel between Canada and the embarkation port, on an air carrier through Air Canada.

This is not a drill- ENTER NOW!!!!!!!!!

Enter for a chance to Win a 7-Night Cruise for 2 with Celebrity Cruises, Including Airfare

08/05/2026

If one more traveller tells me they packed their medication in their checked bag…

…heavy sigh.

Working with the cruise ships that visit my hometown each summer is an absolute honour. But when people miss flight connections and their checked bags don’t arrive with them, it’s my job to help them navigate getting those bags back.

Our lost baggage team at Thunder Bay International Airport is efficient, professional, and genuinely wonderful to work with.

The tough part for me is maintaining a completely nonjudgmental expression when travellers tell me they absolutely need their bag back because all of their medication is inside.

That admission is usually followed by something like this:

“I hope there’s a 24-hour pharmacy in Silver Islet.”

“Well, let’s hope my seizures aren’t too bad tonight.”

“I’m sure they have blood pressure pills and statins on the ship for people who lose theirs.”

And my all-time favourite, from a gentleman with a bionic arm:

“Well, eating and self-care might be a little tricky since I packed the charging cord for my arm in my checked bag.”

It’s no wonder I drink.

The moral of the story is this: Please, please, pretty please-pack anything you cannot live without in your carry-on bag.

If the airline asks you to check your carry-on at the gate, remove your medication, valuables, chargers, travel documents, and anything else you absolutely need. Ask for a small bag if necessary, and carry those items onto the aircraft with you.

Under no circumstances should you part ways with your medications, items of value, or rechargeable bionic arm cords.

On a more fun note, look how cute the Viking/Silver Islet team is!

07/21/2026

$1200 raised on the weekend for the animal rescues during our wildfires.
Thank you so very much for your support❤️

07/16/2026

What can I do to help?

I know that question has been on so many minds here in Northwestern Ontario this week.

My heart is breaking.
For the families who have lost homes and camps, for the brave firefighters on the front lines, and for those living with the uncertainty of what tomorrow will bring.

I cannot bear to think about the pets and wildlife caught in all of this.

This is what I came up with:

From Thursday, July 16 to Sunday, July 19, I will be offering a limited number of group surplus travel rooms-and donating 100% of my commission from every booking to local animal rescue efforts.

These are rooms I’m able to add onto existing group bookings at original rates secured months ago, meaning they are priced significantly lower than what you’ll find online today.

Availability is limited, with some restrictions, but I currently have approximately 15 rooms across a variety of beautiful resorts.

All packages are one week, based on double occupancy, and depart non-stop from Thunder Bay with Sunwing Vacations.

Current options include:

• Royalton Bavaro, Punta Cana Jan 12–19, 2027 (Swim-Up Room) - under $3100 pp
• Iberostar Paraiso Beach, Cancun Jan 25- 01 Feb 2027, 2027- under $2800 pp
• Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres, Cancun Feb 1–8 2027 - under $3100 pp
• Secrets Mirabel, Cancun Feb 28–Mar 7, 2027 -under $2600 pp
• Wyndham Alltra, Punta Cana Mar 30–Apr 6, 2027 - under $2600 pp
• Paradisus La Perla, Cancun (Adults Only) Jan 10–17, 2027 - under $2700 pp

If something catches your eye, comment the resort name below or send me a message, and I’ll share full details in a private message.
A $250 per person deposit is required, and bookings must be confirmed by Sunday, July 19 at 6:00 PM.

Every single dollar of commission from these bookings will go directly to animal rescue organizations here in Thunder Bay.
I’ll share an update on Monday with the results of the donations to Northern Reach Network and Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Northwest Animal Centre

Thank you-on behalf of the pets.

07/16/2026

I am feeling helpless while the fires burn around us, so I came up with this.

Please visit my Facebook post for resort and pricing information.

100% of the commissions I earn on these bookings will be donated to Northern Reach Network and our local Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Northwest Animal Centre.
Thank you ❤️

07/10/2026

Baby, it's (NOT) cold outside !

In my hometown of Thunder Bay, the temps are 25 degrees ( ish) and we feel like its a heat wave hahaha!

Over in Europe- it is a REAL heatwave, with temps over 30 degrees in most of the touristy areas.

It is SO important to take weather in to consideration when planning summer travel.

As we age gracefully, our bodies don’t handle heat the way they used to. We sweat less, circulation slows, and it takes more effort for our bodies to cool down.

Add in common medications and health conditions, and suddenly dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke can happen much faster-and with less warning.

Plan smart in the heat: early mornings out, midday breaks in. That’s not a luxury-it’s a safety strategy.

Hydrate often (before you feel thirsty!), and go easy on alcohol (wait- what??) and caffeine-they can dehydrate you faster than you think.

Don’t count on air conditioning everywhere in Europe-pack a hat, umbrella, and a small fan. Lightweight clothing is a must.

MOST IMPORTANT- know the warning signs: dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea. If you feel them-stop, cool down, and hydrate right away.

A little preparation = a much safer, more enjoyable trip

Now go enjoy that WARMTH- you know it will be freezing soon enough :-))

07/08/2026

Thank you so much for the votes!

Over 30 years and I still learn something new EVERY day.

I get a gold star for making mistakes, learning from them, and never doing THAT again!☹️😂😂😂

I love my clients and my FB community so much- Thank you.