_staff – Stepping Out Travels

Donna Carlin has 31 years of experience in the travel industry. She is a certified Destination Specialist travel agent, and specializes in group travel, as well as FIT (Flexible Independent Travel).Donna was born in Jersey City, NJ. Graduated Jersey City State College with a dual degree in Mathematics & Education. She taught high school & college Math for several years before starting her family. Her love for travel is what prompted her into the travel industry, where she is dedicated to helping people plan a vacation of a lifetime. She believes in helping her clients, whether a group, family, couple, or individual, create a customized vacation package that suites their particular interests and tastes. This includes arranging their accommodations, extra amenities, special services, dining options, and planned excursions.

Donna opened Stepping Out Travel Services LLC on April 27, 2005 as a one woman team! With the support of her son, Tony a Business Development manager and her daughter, Mandee, an Art Therapist, Stepping Out Travel grew. As of January 2013, Donna’s business has grown to a team of 13. Stepping Out Travel Services was voted ‘Best or one of the best’ travel agencies 2008 – 2018. The business has grown and so has its reputation.

As owner, Donna provides business support and education for her team. She also has served as President of the Association of Central Jersey Travel Professionals 2008-2010. She has developed a Home Based Agent support group providing local HB agencies training, education & ideas to develop their own successful business. She is a proud member of SKAL (An international group developed to promote the importance of closer relationships among those who strive to develop and promote both national and international travel), ACT( local NJ travel agent & vendor organization), PTANA ( Professional Travel Agent National Association), OSSN ( Outside Sales Support Networking),and served as secretary of NJASTA.

As a Certified Sandals Specialist travel agent, Donna is very familiar with all the accommodations, amenities and services offered by the Sandals luxury vacation resorts. Sandals has over a dozen different all-inclusive resorts in prime tropical locations, such as Jamaica, St. Lucia, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbados. Donna can help her clients plan vacations in any of these Caribbean locations. As a specialist, she can also help clients make arrangements for special services like spa treatments, transportation, and candlelight dinners. She can also make pre-arrangement for special activities, including local tours, water or land sports, adventure tours, scuba diving, or a round of golf. Donna can assist couples in planning and organizing a wedding or honeymoon package at any of the luxury Sandals resorts.

Donna spent her most memorable vacation traveling throughout Europe. She spent several weeks on her own to various Italian cities like Venice, Naples and Capri, as well as traveling through Belgium, Austria, France, Germany and Ireland. She enjoyed touring the many historic locations. This love for independent travel has helped make her a destination expert at helping others plan their own FIT packages. She helps each customer create a specialized itinerary that is based on their specific interests and likes in order to plan a vacation that they will truly enjoy. She assists her clients by making any necessary arrangements, and plans complete an individualized package for each customer.

Donna’s education ACC, Accredited Cruise Consultant and her experience helps her lead the cruise sales. She specializes in all major cruise lines, as well as river cruising.

Whether it is by air, land or sea- Donna will design a vacation of your dreams!