With The Russell Travel Team on your side, you can sit back, relax, and have peace of mind knowing that your vacation planning is in expert hands. Whether you're searching for an unforgettable cruise for your honeymoon or planning a European adventure, our New Braunfels, Texas based travel agency is here to help. With years of experience and access to exclusive resources, our travel advisors can find special discounts available only to our customers. This means you’ll not only have a fully planned vacation but also save money in the process. Our goal is to help you escape reality and worries, so you can experience the trip of a lifetime—visiting destinations you’ve only dreamed about. Whether you need a tour and cruise agency or a customized vacation planner, our team is ready to assist.
As a top-producing agency within the Cruise Planners network, our New Braunfels, Texas travel agency is recognized as one of the most highly rated and well-reviewed agencies in the Greater Texas Hill Country region. The Russell Travel Team is dedicated to crafting extraordinary travel experiences.
Whether you're interested in: - Land Tours - River Cruises - All-Inclusive Resorts - Escorted Tours - Safaris - Ocean Cruises; Our team has traveled the world to bring you exclusive, customized travel itineraries. Russ and his team of dedicated professionals take pride in offering recommendations based on personal experience and industry training.
Call us today! Let us help you experience the world in a way you’ll never forget.
Hours of Operation
Monday
10:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
10:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
10:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
10:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
10:00am - 4:00pm
Sunday
10:00am - 4:00pm
Testimonials
Charles is the best, he listens, gives us advise and ideas for our vacations and has real experiences from his own travels. We cannot imagine booking a vacation without him.- Michael M.
Amy was awesome! She kept us in the loop the whole time, and I'm totally recommending her to everyone I know.- TATIANA P.
Amy is exceptional. She has gone above and beyond. She completely exceed all my expectations. She’s so wonderful.- Danielle H.
Cheryl was always responsive and timely with all my questions. Her answers were always spot on and helped make our planning and actual vacation stress-free.- Ernie H.
Thank you Russ for all you did to make sure my sister and I had a wonderful first cruise! You were always available to answer our questions. We came home with a lot of great memories ! Thanks again for all you did!- Terry M.
Russ Russell planned a terrific Alaskan cruise for me and my sister. We planned a year and a half before sailing. He picked the Perfect ship, room and packages that made for a carefree trip. We had a blast!
Russ continues to be Exceptional!!! All coordination and set plans were on target. Once again, thank you for making this trip memorable. Until the next one:-)- Jose M.
Fantastic- all done right.- Thomas G.
Russ is an excellent Travel advisor! Will use again in the future. His experience and knowledge is greatly appreciated!- Kathryn R.
Russ is an excellent Travel advisor. Will use again in the future. His experience and knowledge is greatly appreciated.- Kathryn R.
Excellent assistance in helping us plan for our trip. Numerous travel and hotel options presented to us. Took all the stress out of planning. Thank you Cheryl!- John K.
Our travel advisor always exceeds our expectations. Anthony DiFillipo is a great communicator and always delivers our documents to our home to help us out. Anthony truly cares that all his customers get the beat vacation possible.?????????- Marie L.
They will help making the cruise easier to plan and take care of any issues to ensure a great experience.- Dennis C.
Our Cruise Planner Travel Advisor, Anthony DiFilippo, did an excellent job assisting us with this cruise. He is to be commended on a job well done!- Evelyn G.
Zak was phenomenal. He exceeded our expectations in every category! We could not have had a better experience. We're thankful for the time and effort he put into making our vacation an unforgettable experience. Thank you, Zak!- Julon T.
My experience with Cruise Planners was amazing! Russ helped us research the options for our Nile River Cruise! We discussed pros and cons of each ship and he recommended Avalon Waterways based on our needs and what we were looking for. He was 100% correct - this was the ship for us and it was the vacation of a lifetime! Russ definitely went above and beyond to help us plan the perfect trip!- Patricia H.
Zak was phenomenal. He exceeded our expectations in every category! We could not have had a better experience. We're thankful for the time and effort he put into making our vacation an unforgettable experience. Thank you, Zak!- Julon T.
I saw a cruise deal on Russ’s email on a Monday, called Russ about it and had it booked within the hour! Left that Thursday! Awesome vaca in beautiful weather. We also booked an excursion at half the price, easy to locate with no crowds and was exactly what we wanted. Always run our plans with Russ!- Laurie S.
Russ always provides top-notch service!- Linda D.
Wonderful cruise aboard Holland America's Volendam. Loved the smaller ship...thanks, Russ, for all of your help!- Linda D.
Great resource for information & suggestions, easy to reach & thorough in responses.- Jennifer K.
Anthony is amazing!!!!- Nicole R.
Russ is amazing! He helped us book the best Caribbean cruise at the best price for me, my hubby, and my 86-year-old mom. Somehow, he appears to be available 24/7 to answer all my questions and concerns and he does it without any hesitation and with tremendous kindness. We have already booked 2 more cruises with him for 2025 - one is a Nile River Cruise. He went through the decision process with us and helped us decide which Ship and Company would fit out lifestyle and budget the best. I can't say enough great things about Russ. We are forever, loyal customers!- Patricia H.
It was a great experience and my first cruise.- Melissa C.
Anthony is fantastic and we have made several referrals to him!- Kenneth H.
The best, most caring and professional service for many years. Thank you ????- Constance M.
I couldn’t have been blessed with a better person to have had this experience thru the perfectionism of planning suggestions where to stay where to go .. Wow above and beyond !! Everyone should go thru booking with Amy !!!- ROSEMARY A.
The experience like always was superb. Russ is a very knowledgeable, trouble solving, caring person. We always put our travels plan in his magical hands.- Carmen M.
My experience with you guys was awesome. Anthony took great care of me. Everything was done sent me my information. It was Royal Caribbean that I had a problem with unfortunately they can’t control the weather. We didn’t get to the Bahamas Port Canaveral we want going to the GR which I don’t like and they said after the DR we’re going to Haiti, which we didn’t do Because of the storm and then he tried to run it. He couldn’t do that and yeah, the boat and the people on the boat shake rattled and roll for two days on the boat first aid and they offered me an ice pack. My shoulder is purple because I was in a pool that had a lot of waves and I knew it, but I went to one end of the pool and the wave pushed me my shoulder in me under the first step of the ladder and my shoulder is extremely bruised. I’ve contacted Royal Caribbean , but haven’t heard anything back from them. They gave us back port fees, but honestly, it was an eight day cruise and we spent six of it on the water which is fine. You know relaxed, but I don’t know if I would cruise with them again, but you guys did a great job.- Janice S.
The experience like always was superb. Russ is a very knowledgeable, trouble solving, caring person. We always put our travels plan in his magical hands.- Carmen M.
Another wonderful cruise...thanks to Russ. Always attentive to our special requests.- Linda D.
Attentive to needs/special requests- Linda D.
I know it was pretty short notice, but I appreciate your help. Especially when it looked like we might have to cancel. We’ll be looking for our next adventure soon.- Julie B.
Russ was absolutely fantastic at helping us book our dream vacation. From tips and tricks to knowing which parking lot to park in and finding us discounted coupons, we couldn't have had a better travel agent. we are excited to book our next cruise with Russ!- Francisco B.
Russ was absolutely fantastic at helping us book our dream vacation. From tips and tricks to knowing which parking lot to park in and finding us discounted coupons, we couldn't have had a better travel agent. we are excited to book our next cruise with Russ!- Francisco B.
Not only would we recommend Anthony at Cruise Planners, but we have - several times. he never lets us or our referrals down!
I can always count on our agent, Anthony DiFilippo, to find the best cruise for us. He is quick and efficient. He has first-hand knowledge of the ships and their destinations. I would highly recommend his services.
Russ did an outstanding job...so easy to work with and so responsive to questions/concerns- Linda D.
Russ was and is very knowledgeable and helpful planning for our cruise. He will help you start to vacation time.- Dennis C.
We had a fabulous time on our first cruise. Our cabin steward was quite impressed when he saw that I had a list of needs and requests. Thanks to Anthony’s guidance and recommendations we were prepared. We are looking forward to our next cruise with the help from Anthony.- Charlene M.
Wonderful 12 day cruise up the northeast US to Quebec. Charles is the most efficient and informative travel expert! He is a wealth of knowledge and we appreciate each time he books out trips! Thank you!- Kathy R.
This is our 3rd Royal Caribbean Cruise and 1st to Alaska--WE LOVED EVERY moment!! This was a bucket list trip and we made so many memories. Charles Russell with Cruise Planners was amazing as always!! We are looking forward to the next cruise!- Maureen T.
We had a wonderful time on our American Cruise, going down the Mississippi River. We met and made new friends. Anthony was very helpful during our entire process of planning this vacation and everything went very smoothly. I can't wait to start planning another vacation for next year. I will definitely be calling Anthony to help with the planning, as soon as I know where we want to go. Thank you again Anthony for all your help.- Jane R.
Anthony was great! He took care of all questions and requests promptly. I would definitely work with Anthony again.
We had a really nice cruise. We have used other travel agencies before and none of them did the little things that were such a pleasant surprise that your agency did. The reminders to check in, things to bring, suggestions for excursions and things to do. Also the tips about booking a next cruise onboard was great information. Thank you for your professional customer service. We will definitely use your agency again.- NANCY B.
Anthony has been very professional and accomodating and on top of his game with our last 2 cruises, he does his very best to make all your dreams come true.....- Elaine C.
Anthony is not just a professional, he is VERY attentive to your situation (retirement, birthday etc) and makes you feel exceptional. Booking again shortly!
Many thanks to Russ for helping us plan the BEST vacation! We planned a complicated trip - a few days in Amsterdam, a 12 day cruise to Iceland, Ireland and Scotland, with private excursions, private transfers and 5 international time line changes. Russ provided his recommendations quickly, within budget and booked everything without hesitation when we made our decisions. He gave us advice when traveling internationally and booked incredible airline seats! This was a life changing trip, and a dream come true for my husband and I. Our room on the ship was perfection, the excursions were once in a life time memories and al of our transfers kept us in contact of their arrival, thus reducing a lot of stress. Russ, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything - this was truly one of the BEST trips of our lives and you are truly the BEST!- Frances M.
AMAZING! Russ is knowledgeable, patient, and thorough. Highly recommend!
Russ does a great job to help setup cruises. He will keep you informed and send uplates prior to your trip and follow up. He'll make suggestions to help you get the most out of your trip. He has traveled the world which makes him very knowledgeable about where you might want to go.
Trust Russ !!- Darlene C.
Russ worked with us through this adventure, travel to Florida, planning our first snorkel adventure and so much more. We loved this cruise so much that we booked on board and he is already working with us for the next cruise we will take. So much fun and excitement all thanks to Russ.- Jennifer B.
Just returned from a wonderful Royal Caribbean cruise assisted by Russ from Cruise Planners. He was great to work with. Always answered any questions I had and patiently assisted when I had techy type issues. Thank you Russ.- KAREN M.
My family booked a Caribbean cruise in 2016 for our whole family celebrating 2 granddaughters graduation from high school. Kim was our travel agent and did a fabulous job booking our trip for us.- Brenda L.
Anthony provided superior service regarding our recent cruise. It was handled great from the moment the cruise was booked. I appreciate the fact that he was available to us to answer any questions we may have had. We will be using him for our next cruise. I would recommend his services to anyone.- Evelyn G.
Russ kept with us throughout the cumbersome times of arranging special needs for my handicapped wife. Despite flying into Schiphol with their widely publicized problems and a last minute departure port change. He adapted quickly and with our needs in mind. Despite an impatient traveler, he kept calm and everything came together in time for a smooth and awesome vacation.- Paul F.
Russ selected amazing hotels for our stay. I highly recommend The Herodion if you’re staying in Athens, and Brasil if you stay in Glyfada. We booked our own ferries to the islands, and that was easy enough to do. Our excursions were a great way to experience Greece. I arranged transportation through our hotels directly via email which was a load off my mind. We enjoyed our Greece vacation!
Russ is extremely knowledgeable and helpful in planning a cruise! He is readily available to answer any questions. He is your "go to" person for cruising!
We had an amazing trip and it was great having everything planned and ready for us. One hiccup along the way was immediately fixed by our travel agent! Can’t express how highly I recommend!!
Russ was terrific to work with when planning our Alaskan cruise. He took care of every detail. We are looking forward to working with Russ again!
Loved, loved and loved the experience during this last trip. Hotel excelente, the cruise ???? amazing. Had a great time, thanks for everything.
Great communication & helpful throughout the entire process.
Russ is the man!!! He is more than helpful and super flexible. We have had issues with airlines and he always gets the job done. Thank you so much!
Russ is absolutely the best hands down.
Love Russ he makes us feel like he is our personal one and only agent. He makes our hopes and dreams feel important.
Stacey is our travel agent and takes excellent care of us
Love having Wade as my TA. He makes booking a cruise great experience . I tell him what we want and he makes it happen.
Best value
Russ and Cruise Planners are just great ! ????
I want to take a moment to thank you for your help in one amazing vacation. Key west accommodation and how close it was to everything was amazing. To top that the hotel in Miami was amazing too. Thanks for the help and thanks for always delivering one amazing vacation package.- Carmen M.
Now that I’ve been back from a much needed vacation and settled back into regular life, I’d like to give a HUGE shoutout to Russ for booking ALL of my ground transportation, flights, and stays along the way! Could not have been an easier experience! Anything I was worried about evaporated immediately on the morning of my vacation. If you’re stressed about planning a vacation, call him!!!!- KATIE S.
Stacey was wonderful in helping us to plan this vacation!
Anthony was very helpful in setting up our accommodations and answered all our questions and went beyond his duties regarding our cabin selection!
Excellent overall experience. The cruise itself, air travel, pricing...everything. Russ really took care of us.
Russ organized and planned our 21-person trip in an exemplary manner. We all enjoyed immensely.
We departed, ate, drank, snorkeled, swam, fished, laughed, loved, prayed, got sunburns, Covid tested(negative), and flew back home!! Riviera Maya was good to us all! So much fun and so many memories made! My boys are going to be sad when they call room service and there is no answer for a midnight snack!- Shawn L.
Russ Russell is the best travel agent. I would highly recommend him for anyone looking to travel
Whenever I travel, it's always better when I go through Cruise Planners!
Charles Russell is the greatest! The greatest comfort in using a travel agent like him is I know if something goes off on our travel plan, Charles is there to jump in and solve it.
Went on an amazing cruise from Los Angeles CA to Ensenada Mex and had a wonderful time.
Stacey was phenomenal. She was always available to answer our questions. She got us the best honeymoon for our money!
I have to say you knocked it out of the park on this trip!!! It was our best trip ever! I'm addicted to Cabo ... can I just move there and lay in the sun and fish??!!- Shawn L.
Awesome
No matter what, or when I would ONLY book with Charles Russell! He is truly dedicated to his business and ALWAY makes any adventure seamless, and FUN!
Thoroughly enjoyed the one cruise I’ve been on. Looking forward to more
Just returned from our 35th wedding Anniversary vacation at an amazing location in Mexico that Russ Russell picked out and booked for us. He couldn’t have chosen a better place, according to what we communicated we were looking for! Russ was always available to answer our questions and concerns traveling amidst this pandemic. Just as he said, everything was completely safe from start to finish.... no surprises with anything! Highly recommend his services!!!- Rachel M.
Russ planned everything for our Honeymoon in March 2019 for our trip to Negril, Jamaica. My wife & I stayed at a resort that he suggested & it couldn’t have been better. We can’t wait to travel again!- Eric P.
Russ is an amazing & honest travel agent. He helped my husband & I plan our Honeymoon last March in Negril, Jamaica. We stayed at a Sandals Resort & it was paradise! We are definitely going to contact him when we are ready to travel again!- Christina M.
Thank you Russ for helping us plan our dream Honeymoon, a cruise to Croatia and Greece! Santorini was always on our bucket list!- Hannah P.
Russ planned an incredible cruise for us just 2 months before we set sail. He was able to provide us with many perks we could not have gotten had we booked through the ship or other travel sites. The wealth of knowledge Russ has about cruising and traveling in general got us from place to place smoothly and efficiently. Thanks, Russ! We look forward to working with you again!- LISA M.
This was the first time we had travelled with Russ (Travel Agent). His company specializes in expert-led cultural and educational tours in Europe. Group numbers are small, accommodations comfortable and food excellent. The expert guide RUSS who accompanied us was outstanding - passionate, informative, engaging and entertaining. The itinerary was very well thought out, combining leisure time with activity and not-to-be-missed opportunities. RUSS is obviously at the heart of the itinerary planning, and attention to detail is second to none. I would highly recommend his company to anyone wanting a fun, relaxed, educational vacation with fine food - he will deliver.- Carmen M.
I love working with cruise planners! Charles Russell has proven himself above and beyond duty! Can’t wait to plan my next vacation!- CHERYL S.
Russ ... Thank you for the superlative trip you planned for all of us for our recent Europe trip! You made the family trip a most memorable of our lives. You went above and beyond what we wished for and surpassed our expectations. This was the second large group family trip you have planned for us with a flawless outcome!
Your first class service, support, commitment, patience, professionalism and care are superb! I have no doubt you are the BEST in your field and I know anyone that seeks your services out will indeed be happy.
We'll be talking to you soon for another great adventure, thank you again and KUDOS!- Jose M.
My family and I went on a fabulous Alaskan cruise. Since I’m not a seasoned traveler, I had a lot of questions, and Russ answered them all. The cruise line was beautiful, the food delicious, and the service wonderful. Everyone had a fantastic time.- Yolanda D.
My experience with a Russ-planned-cruise goes far past "a cruise." From the moment we checked our specifically marked baggage until we were given special treatment (wheel chairs for two of us) on our return, everything was pre arranged and executed on schedule. No waiting in long lines through customs..straight to VIP and in. And so much for going and coming back. Russ had arranged nightly meals in specialty restaurants that were superb. We arrived at the appointed times and were greeted as guests of honor. The ship's evening shows were booked and Russ had secured front row center for GREASE..a fantastic evening. Well...and then there was our group! All present knew my friend Bill Mayo who kept us laughing and just enjoying some new friends. Would I travel with Russ again? In a heart beat!- HENRIETTA F.
If you’re thinking about a cruise, remember this name…Russ Russell! Being our first cruise, we contacted Russ, arranged a meeting and now return from a great cruise experience. In our initial meetings, Russ not only listened, but heard and understood exactly the type of experience we were looking for on our Alaska trip budget. He offered several cruise lines for comparison and, after a brief discussion of each cruise line, we decided and Russ became totally focused on the Celebrity Solstice Aqua Class package. Russ arranged and explained every detail included in the package…express boarding, selected our cabin location based on sailing route, restaurant and spa privileges, drink package, pre-paid gratuities, and wi-fi. The package offered everything we desired on the ship and Russ never tried to sell us anything else. He also recommended the resource options for shore excursions which we could review and book at our leisure. Once these were decided, Russ added each to our itinerary to be covered under our cruise insurance plan.
During the cruise, we overheard people commenting their on-ship package arrangements didn’t include this or that amenity. To us, the answer was pretty simple…they used the wrong cruise planner! Russ Russell, using his knowledge, experiences and listening-skills, designed a package that was perfect for us.
- Steven F.
We're home from our trip to Jamaica. Received devasting news to our family and had to fly home early. I can't thank Charles Russell "Russ" our travel representative, with Cruise Planners enough for his tireless work behind the scenes to help me get home as soon as possible. Russ is not only a pro at what he does, but a caring and compassionate person who truly understands your needs- Kelly H.
Russ is my go to guy for Travel Plans! He just helped me organize all the adults in our family onto a five day cruise, gave Excellent excursion advice and did a fabulous job! We had a blast! Thank you Russ!!!- Joy L.
Russ is so easy to work with. He takes good care of his clients & finds the best deals available. We have used Russ for 2 cruises & will continue to use him for all our future travels. Thank you, Russ!!!- DIANNA K.
So my first cruise ever. My wife contacted Russ. They planned a cruise and the excursions without me having any idea. I found out the moment we pulled up to the cruise ship Freedom. I was in shock. I thought we were meeting friends in Galveston for the day. Next thing I know, we are headed on a 7 day cruise. We sailed to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. It was the experience of a life time.
We had such an amazing trip. We loved everything about it. We didn't get to get off at Grand Cayman due to weather. We got our money back on the excursion without any issues. Russ picked out the room and its position on the ship. It was excellent. Everything about the trip was amazing. We loved it so much we booked our next trip soon as we got home. This time I get to do some of the planning. We are so excited and counting down our next trip on April.
Russ did an excellent job. Great customer service. And he really knows his stuff. I highly recommend his business. He is officially in charge of all of our future vacations.- BRITT B.
Everything was perfect! Russ was always available for questions and extremely helpful! This was our first cruise; I'm so glad I found Russ through a Google review because he made the trip memorable and flawless. We will definitely call him again for our next vacation!- DANA G.
I want to put out a big thank you to Charles Russell, our travel agent with Cruise Planners, for our wonderful family and Friends cruise reunion. We were on Liberty of the Seas and had a great time. We had a very large group, in fact we had 19 staterooms with a total of 56 people. So many thing could go wrong and yes some things did but Russ managed to fix all the problems before the cruise without headaches to me or the group. Plus, it was nice to have one of his own in our group, Wade McClean. I would recommend them to anyone that is wanting a vacation, cruise or any other traveling arrangements. In fact Wade McClean did our Alaskan air, land and sea cruise in which we will be going on this year too.
We feel so lucky to have found Russ and his company after moving up here.
Thank you again Russ and Wade.
????????????????????- Thersa E.
The resort met all of our expectations. The resort was gorgeous & relaxing, staff was exceptional, food & drink were wonderful. Can't say enough good things about this place. Would definitely go back! And Russ was always so helpful to address any questions I had!- Kendra K.
We just returned from our first cruise. Russ took AMAZING care of us! He answered all of our questions and offered excellent advice before we got started. He handled our flights, hotel before the cruise, stateroom booking... everything. I have never been so relaxed on vacation. I Highly Recommend him! THANK YOU RUSS!- Joy L.
Repeatedly Russ has greatly enhanced my travel adventures because he meticulously searches for discounts & perks-without sacrificing the quality of my accommodations. Russ is the BEST!- Lindora L.
We were looking for last minute (30 day notice) travel option to celebrate my sons graduation from college. I had dome preliminary research and knew we wanted to go on a cruise for the simplicity of it. Russ found us a great itinerary, living from Galveston at the perfect time. I will NEVER book online again for the simple fact that I KNEW if anything went wrong, Russ would have my back. THANK YOU!!!- Liane G.
Russ set us up for success! He recommended the perfect cruise and boat for the experience that we were looking for (Oasis of the Seas!), and suggested a room that we would not have considered but was perfect. He provided excellent customer service and even got it all coordinated while I was still in Afghanistan! Thanks Russ!- Cheryl L.
Just returned from an Oceania Cruise suggested and booked by Russ. Wonderful cruise line, this was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable cruises I have taken! Russ did an outstanding job preparing me for the cruise and organizing every detail. Thank you for this fabulous suggestion!. Will be doing this cruise line again.
- EDWARD W.
In September 2017, my wife and I took a Royal Caribbean cruise booked through Russ Russell with Lightning Travel. Russ did an amazing job finding the best deals and helping us get ready for the cruise. While at sea, hurricane Maria destroyed our return port of San Juan, PR. We contacted Russ and he took care of rescheduling our flights out of our new port in Ft. Lauderdale. He then filed our travel insurance claim to recoup the $1600+ charges levied by the airline to change our flights. I’ve known Russ for several years and he is a great travel agent. I highly recommend him for your travel needs.- Jeremy K.
Mr Charles Russell set up the perfect train trip to New Orleans staying in top of the line 5 star hotels and meals from the Incredible Chefs of the city which built up to the proposal to my now Beautiful Wife at the St Louis Cathedral. With side trips on the Natchez up the Mississippi river and day street car trips around the city..
Simply...This man is incredible.
Thank you Russ for the wonderful experience.- Glen K.
Russ - I cannot thank you enough for the first rate Allure of the Sea 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. You did magnificent job taking care of 14 friends (old and new) in planning, coordinating, arranging, executing everyones needs, travel requirments and transportation. One could not have had a better experience or exquisite trip without your expertise and and behind the scenes hard work. You are the Best in your field. thank you very much for being there for all of us
Kathy- Kathleen E.
Russell was AMAZING! I don't think rating him with 5 stars does him justice. My best friend and I wanted to go on a trip to Europe, we told him the places we wanted to go to and he even added an amazing city along with it. He was able to give us a glimpse of an itinerary within a couple of days! Everything went even better than we thought it would. I can not thank him enough and will definitely get a hold of him again the next time I go on a trip! I recommend to anyone that wants to be stress free of travel planning and wants to have a great time!!! Thank you Russell!- Kristina M.
I booked a trip for my family, six of us in all, with 3 separate rooms. Russ got all the details for me about the best resorts, air travel and pricing. He did a great job getting the information to me and then once we had decided on the hotel and air he put the package together for all of us at a guaranteed best price. Our travel arrangements were flawless from check-in to transportation to and from the airport. I would highly recommend Mr. Russell for any travel or vacation needs you may have.
- Grason U.
Russ is passionate about what he does. He is professional, honest and trustworthy. With Russ, you can guarantee that your first booked vacation will not be your last!- Evan P.
Thank you for arranging a spectacular Mediterranean trip and cruise. The flights, car arrangements, tours, and hotels went absolutely smoothly and made the entire trip stress free. We loved the trip and was just wonderful all the way around. Thank you for taking great care in all the arrangements and details. - Kathleen E.
Russ,
Thank you for arranging a spectacular Mediterranean trip and cruise. The flights, car arrangements, tours, and hotels went absolutely smoothly and made the entire trip stress free. We loved the trip and was just wonderful all the way around. Thank you for taking great care in all the arrangements and details.
Kathy- Kathleen E.
Please allow me to say that I would give Russ MORE than 5 Stars, if it were possible because his thoughtfulness & attention to details are Both VERY IMPRESSIVE! Russ WILL help you turn any vacation into a HIGHLY memorable adventure! Book now! Book OFTEN! You'll be glad you DID!
- Lindora L.
If you want to take the guesswork and stress out of planning your next vacation then call Russ!!!!! He will take your vacation dreams and turn them into reality! He knows everything about travel by land, sea and air. He tailor made our Disney Cruise experience a few months ago and we couldn't have been happier. He was able to make recommendations on the best excursions and on-ship activities that were age-appropriate and not to be missed for everyone in our family. He even turned what could have been a dreadful experience into a fun afternoon....While en route to the port the morning we were leaving, Russ alerted us that our ship departure would be delayed even before we got word from the cruise line. He then made recommendations on where we should eat and what we could do to keep the kids entertained until it was time to board the ship. He also told us the best lot to park our car in while we were gone. Truly a professional in every sense!!- JESSICA F.
Special thanks to Charles Russell for his amazing travel agent skills. He answered every question in minute detail and provided his expertise on every part of this trip. He is an excellent travel agent and I am privileged to have his services.- Joshua W.
Had the Best Time Celebrating my 40th BDAY. This is my second Cruise with Russ and sir YOU Rock!!!!- Lina G.
Russ is superb ---- before, during and after travel. We've used a number of times. He finds great deals that are hard even for an experienced google IT person to find. And Russ is a superb person to
meet !
Highly recommended - JERRY D.
Russ, I want to thank you for setting up the best vacation that we have ever taken. We were very pleased and impressed with the accommodations and excursions you made us to Barcelona, Rome and Italy. They were all well planned and truly nothing but the best. The itinerary you put together was flawless. Everywhere we went the process was as smooth as planned. We can't thank you enough for making our family vacation a pleasant experience, with a lot of good memories to cherish and share with our family and friends. Finally, I want to let you know that I recommend your Services and cannot wait to plan our next vacation. Gracias! Edwin- Edwin M.
Hola Charles Russell !
Well we're back and getting our clocks back adjusted to this side of the world . I wanted to take a minute and Thank You for everything !
Our trip was spectacular and absolutely amazing i knew it would not have been what it was without your help .
The service was first class all the way and everything we expected and more .
You will come highly recommended to others and deservingly more so !
Sincerely ,
RodrÃguez Maldonado Family- Wanda M.
I've spent the last...several years planning my own vacations, mainly because I thought...."who needs a travel agent, I can do it myself and save money". In this day and age we turn to computers more then we turn to real people with real knowledge and expertise. After meeting and talking with Russ, I will NEVER plan my own vacations again. He brings so much knowledge, expertise and personal service to the table AND... I found that his prices were, in many instances, better then what I found online doing the leg work myself. This guy does lots of travels and knows where to go based on what you are looking for!!! I would not hesitate for a minute to recommend Russ to anyone looking for help planning their next vacation.- Liane G.
Russ,
First and foremost; thank you for the awesome support in the trip planning and for the superb services rendered before and during the trip. The cruise and site tours were awesome--the best! The group were excited about the trip and visiting Europe but the overall agenda you recommended indeed enhanced and brighten expectations; above and beyond. You helped in assuring the trip fascinating, wonderful, enjoyable, and most important--memorable! Spain, France, Italy and the cruise was a tough and complex tour your experience sparked the outcome. You are the BEST; the ELITE in this business. From all of us--the group--we really want to thank you for your commitment to excellence and for the first class service!!! We'll be seeing you again!!!!:-) Jose- Jose M.
We absolutely loved working with Russ on several trips and I highly recommend him for all your travel needs! He listens, he is extremely kind, very detailed oriented and his customer service is best! His lighting fast responses and ensuring your pre and post travel coordination needs makes him the best in the business! I love his advice and look forward to many years of working with him!- Frances M.
We planned out trip 6 months ago not having a clue we just wanted to get away with our girls. Charles made everything so easy and stress free he did an amazing job to keep us informed with everything and even while we were on vacation he was still answering our questions. We recommend him to all of our friends and all of you guys who need a vacation. We will definitely plan with him in the future. He did an amazing job!!!- Juanita F.
I want to thank and highly recommend my friend and travel planner: Charles Russell of Cruise Planners! We just got back from a beautiful family vacation to Jamaica that he helped me plan and book. He didn't just think of every detail, he gave me great insights into navigating all the resorts and packages available. I started out trying to put a vacation together on my own but soon became overwhelmed with making the right choice, especially considering the amount of money we were spending. He took the time to figure out what was important to me, a beautiful beach and a comfortable room with kids in mind. He also respected my budget and gave me options and knew a lot about each destination. After MUCH deliberation and a lot of patience on his part, we selected Beaches Negril and it was amazing. The best part was that when I booked I knew I had made the right choice, I wasn't wondering if I could have done better or if there was something missing. THEN, he was right there with us on the phone on the morning of the trip, checking our flight, confirming our gate and when Delta had the melt down of the decade (complete computer disaster) and our flight was delayed 3 hours, he was right there with us making calls, fixing our dates and reassuring me on the phone. So instead of having to worry about how we would get our vacation back on track, he was behind the scenes until late that night helping iron out all the details of moving our reservation around. We got delayed in Atlanta for two days (no kidding) but we made it and the VIP lounge in Montego Bay and escort through customs he told me I needed was genius. We were sipping a cocktail having already been through customs and immigration (whole thing took 10 mins) while the rest of the crowd was stuck in what was easily a 1-2 hour line. He had all our transfers arranged and when we hit a few snags with our room (by snag I mean it was literally raining in our room), he was working behind the scenes to get us a 2 night credit! On our return trip, he was there again, confirming our flight status, giving us tips and getting our gate information. We had drama getting to our connection, DELTA AGAIN, but there was Russ telling us what to do and how to expedite the US customs process. He was on the phone with us until we were safely on our flight home to San Antonio. I don't know what I expected from a travel agent, but I would never go overseas or spend the amount of money I did without Charles Russell. It's like having an ace in your pocket. Did I mention that as the client you don't pay the travel agent? The vendors pay them. So all this excellent service and peace of mind came at no additional cost to me? Why wouldn't I want FREE, EXCELLENT customer service??? Please call my dear friend and newest family member for all your travel needs, you will not regret it!! Thanks Russ! We are forever in your debt!!
- Anna V.
Russ made our first time cruise effortless to plan and was always available for my "newbie" questions. Flawless service from an Air Force Veteran. Highly recommend!- JASON F.
One of the best trips we have taken, would like to thank Russ for making it one of the easiest. - Ellen M.
Our trip to Alaska was fantastic, I urge those who have never been to make this your next trip. Transportation on the land portion was great, and the Cruise absolutely wonderful. Great food, great entertainment, lots of wonderful people to travel with, made some wonderful new friends. Would go again. Having our own balcony, gave us twenty- four hour views of the trip. We are so grateful for such a wonderful trip.- SHARON L.
Just booked our first ever vacation to Jamaica with Charles Russell as our agent. We could not be happier with his service and attention to detail. We can't wait for the vacation to begin!- David W.
I have planned my last three trips with Cruise Planners. Two were for fun and one for business. Even though they were small trips that didn't involve a cruise, they were very helpful with everything including the hotel, rental cars and even a list of kid friendly activities once we arrived at our destination. I will not travel anywhere without first calling Russ at Cruise Planners.- Tom W.
Thanks to Russ, my family had an amazing vacation that provided us with a lifetime full of memories. He went above and beyond to make sure that every aspect was perfect. I would, and already have, recommend Hill Country Cruise Planners to my family and friends. Thank you beyond words.- Amber P.
We took an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Allure of the Seas with Royal Caribbean in Nov 2015. It was very well planned from start to finish! Russ thought of everything including travel to and from, a the great hotel with cruise port drop off (he even called and told the hotel staff we would be arriving late), arranged dinners and excursions for a rowdy bunch and basically kept everyone happy for our 7 days at sea.- MICHELLE C.
Charles Russell got me to and from the Mayo clinic in record time! We could not have done it without his expertise! Thank you lightning travel! We will use you again! Two big thumbs up!
I cannot say enough good things about the river cruise we took this summer on the AMA River Cruise line and the customer service we received from Russ! We had never heard of AMA and thru the research that Russ did, he found us the absolute best cruise line. Russ handled all of our reservations, plane, transfers, hotel in Amsterdam and some wonderful tours in Amsterdam where we had decided to spend a couple of extra days at the end of the cruise. He found us the most charming and interesting hotel in Amesterdam. He is really great at what he does. I highly reccomend a river cruise. We did the Rhine from Zurich to Amesterdam. There were many side trips which are all included in your cruise package. The food was great and the service wonderful. Alll in all it was a super trip, one that I would highly reccomend and I really have Charles Russell to thank for making it happen! Carolyn Gaedke- Carolyn G.
Cruise Planners were awesome. Russ basically guided me in the right direction every step of the way. He made going on my first cruise a breeze. I would use Cruise Planners over and over. Actually I am preparing to do so at this moment.- NANCY D.
