Expert Vacation Planning
Get to know our travel agents and their top destinations for Travel Advisor Appreciation Month.
Journey around the world with our experienced travel agents, and get to know their preferences, recommendations, tips, and more to celebrate Travel Advisor Appreciation Month! Planning your vacation with a travel agent is a customized experience that’s guided by your history, interests, and personality—so meeting with a compatible AAA South Jersey travel advisor can transform a good vacation into an incredible one.
Carol Symington
Office: Sewell
Travel Industry Experience: 40+ years total, 20 years at AAA
Favorite Destinations: Switzerland and Italy
Favorite Local Spot: North Wildwood
Ideal Vacation Itinerary: Mostly active with some leisure/downtime
Fun Fact: Carol is involved in her community, including serving as a board member for the Greater Swedesboro Business Association.
On her trip-planning process…
“It is very important to speak with clients asking questions to qualify them so I can make the right recommendations: Where have they been, how do they like to travel, what have been highlights and low points of previous trips.”
Cheryl Chambers
Office: Voorhees
Travel Industry Experience: 30+ years total, 15 years at AAA
Favorite Destinations: Egypt and the Florida Keys
Bucket-List Destination: Tahiti
Certifications: Viking Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Sandals and Beaches Resorts, Hawaii Specialist, Honeymoon and Celebration Travel
Fun Fact: Cheryl has been to several European countries: Greece, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, France, England, Iceland, Switzerland, Ireland, and Denmark.
On the best part of her job…
“I've traveled to so many countries now that I can sit with [clients] and give from a personal experience the top 10 things that people want to do, and they can choose how busy they want to be. We could go over a lot of the side tours and excursions that they can take. It’s just fun to be a part of; each customer's wants and needs are different.”
Gina Kurcheski
Office: Sewell
Travel Industry Experience: 20+ years total, 9 years at AAA
Favorite Destination: Hawaii
Specialties: River and Ocean Cruising, Caribbean, European Travel, Disney, US National Parks, and Hawaii.
Top Travel Advice: Gina recommends always purchasing travel insurance, because you never know when you may need it.
Fun Fact: In addition to leisure travel, Gina also has experience in planning for corporate and group trips, and event destinations.
On why she loves Hawaii…
“Its natural beauty… You can see everything from beautiful beaches, to rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes. You can go on adventures or just relax and enjoy all it has to offer.”
Jacquelyne Jacquet
Office: Sewell
Travel Industry Experience: 20+ years total, 15 years at AAA
Ideal Vacation: A cruise
Favorite Local Spot: Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Certifications: Disney College of Knowledge, Viking River Cruise, Princess Cruises and Sandals & Beaches Resorts
Fun Fact: When she is not traveling, Jacquelyne enjoys camping with her family, walks with her German Shorthaired Pointers, and reading.
On why cruises are her favorite…
“Cruises are one of favorite vacations because they offer the perfect balance of comfort, ease, and discovery. I love that you can experience multiple destinations while unpacking just once, all while enjoying exceptional service, dining, and thoughtfully planned experiences at sea.”
Kathy Barbieri
Office: Voorhees
Travel Industry Experience: 30+ years total, 5 years at AAA
Favorite Destinations: Disney Parks and Cruises
Specialties: Disney, group travel, and destination weddings
Bucket-List Destinations: Alaska and every Disney Park around the world
Fun Fact: If Kathy travels to a place she’s been previously, she strives to see and experience new things each time.
On her bucket-list destinations…
“There's so many; I mean, I have a list…I would love to see the beauty of our country; that’s what I really want to do.”
Margie Piazza
Office: Voorhees
Travel Industry Experience: 30+ years total, 4.5 years at AAA
Ideal Vacation: A cruise
Regions Outside of the U.S. Traveled: The Bahamas, Mexico, The Caribbean, Great Britain, France, and Italy.
Specialties: West Coast destinations and Disney destinations around the world (insider perspective)
Fun Fact: Margie is originally from Southern California.
On her passion for travel…
“If I am not traveling, I am dreaming of planning my next trip. I’d love to help plan yours!”
Tina Harding
Office: Voorhees
Travel Industry Experience: 40+ years total, 12 years at AAA
Cruises Experience: Tina has traveled to most of The Caribbean and Europe on cruise ships.
Interests: Anything Disney
Favorite Local Spot: The beach
Fun Fact: A passion Tina has, in addition to travel and Disney, is watching her two kids play sports.
On how many times she’s been to Disney…
“So many times that I’ve lost count.”
Tracy Grier-Cossaboon
Office: Millville
Travel Industry Experience: 35+ years total, 15 years at AAA
Favorite Destinations: New Zealand, Iceland, and Switzerland and Saint Lucia
Favorite AAA South Jersey Motorcoach Trip: Railroads of New England
Bucket-List Destinations: The Amalfi Coast, Yellowstone, and Mount Rushmore
Fun Fact: Tracy likes to use a paper map when she travels instead of a GPS, and she has a great internal compass.
On working at AAA:
“I just enjoy what I do—I would hope I would like what I do after so long... [I went from a] mom-and-pop travel agency to a corporate world that was completely opposite. I enjoy my coworkers; we always bounce ideas off each other and help each other out.”