Evesham travel agent keeps people on the move

EVESHAM — Donna DiMambro’s love of travel began early. As a 12-year-old, she sailed to Europe with her parents on a luxury Italian ocean liner.

The seven-day voyage from New York to Naples was life-changing. She was hooked.

“I loved it,’’ said DiMambro, who today is the manager of Travel With Ease, a small independent agency in the Marlton Greene Shopping Center on Route 70.

Besides her personal travel history, DiMambro brings to her job lessons learned from 30 years of working in the industry. When she dispenses advice, it often comes from personal experience.

One of her favorite destinations and one she often recommends to clients is Hawaii.

“It’s easy because it’s still the United States, but it’s exotic and like another country because of the Polynesian influence,’’ she said, citing black sand beaches, busy Honolulu and more laid-back Kauai.

Helping couples plan their honeymoon is a big part of the agency’s business. DiMambro is currently guiding a soon-to-be-wed pair as they work out the details of a trip to Bali and Thailand.

“We have contacts there that give us lots of good information,’’ DiMambro said.

Other exotic Asian locales are a popular option, as is Italy, always a favorite.

“So many people have seen movies set in Italy, they have very specific ideas about what they want to do and see. And then, of course, there is the food and the wine,’’ she said.

Some clients want to cram in too much, and DiMambro offers a note of caution: If you’re going to Europe for seven days, don’t forget you will have a five- or six-hour flight.

“If you’re going to Italy, do Italy,’’ she said.

Because she knows where things are and how long it takes to travel from one place to another, she can customize a trip to suit an individual’s wishes, anchoring a dream excursion with practical tips.

The arrival of the Internet brought profound changes to the travel business, and many who once worked with a travel agent prefer to plan their own trips. Still, there are many, such as seniors not comfortable with computers, or large groups that require special accommodations, who continue to rely on an agent’s services.

DiMambro dispelled the myth that using a travel agent adds significantly to the cost of a trip. Even the $30 fee charged for arranging airline tickets can be offset by the savings a professional can find knowing where and how to look.

“We can check all the flights at one time and give you the lowest price for the time you want to travel,’’ she said.

Whether the person who comes in for help wants to go on vacation but has no idea where, or insists on controlling each step of the process, DiMambro believes in customizing a plan to suit the individual.

Her own travels take her frequently to Southern California, where three granddaughters are the highlight of any trip.