Helen Arends, Travel Agent in Willmar, MN

Helen Arends

Willmar, MN Travel Agent

Helen Arends

Willmar, MN

Happy Horizons Travel, LLC, an independent agent with WorldVia, a Travel Leaders Agency
5.0
(4)
100% Recommended
Helen was amazing to work with for what turned into one of the most trying travel experiences of my life. When an impending blizzard started shutting... Read More >
About
Reviews
Certificates & Awards
My Places

Areas of expertise

Destinations:

Cancun, Riviera Maya, Costa Mujeres, New York City, Las Vegas

Interests:

River Cruises, All Inclusive, Adult Only, Couples & Romance, Beach Vacations

Suppliers:

AmaWaterways, Project Expedition, Viking, Viator, Delta Vacations

About Me

I plan your travel so you don't have to

I work with busy people who want a really great travel experience, but may not have the time, desire, or confidence to plan it themselves. 

I specialize in European river cruises, well-chosen all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, ocean cruising, and carefully planned group trips. Most of my clients are in a season of life where they value their time, want things done well, or simply don’t want to risk of getting it wrong. Some come to me feeling overwhelmed by options, unsure where to start, or hesitant to spend money on something they’re not confident in. I help take that pressure off. I guide you through the decisions, simplify the process, and handle the details, so everything flows the best way possible. 

Before travel, I built my life around hospitality: through our farm, restaurant ownership, and wood-fired catering, serving weddings and corporate events. Creating meaningful, memorable experiences for people has always been at the center of what I do. Prior to hospitality industry, I served as a linguist, facilitating communication of concepts and connecting people through interpreting and translating RUS/ENG and ENG/RUS.

Additional Languages
Russian

My clients say:

Cruising to the Bahamas
Cruising to the Bahamas

Helen designed a 25th anniversary getaway for my husband and me, and did a 5-star job taking care of details and communicating with us before, during, and after the trip.

Danielle Smith

REVIEWS

Rating: 5.0
4 reviews
100% Recommended
Your trust is our priority. Every review is submitted by verified travelers after they have booked and completed their trips. Learn more about our review guidelines.
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Showing 4 reviews

The Great NYC MegaBlizzard of 2026 Had Nothing On THIS Travel Advisor
Reviewed By DeeSquared - New York City, NY | Traveled to Mexico
Helen was amazing to work with for what turned into one of the most trying travel experiences of my life. When an impending blizzard started shutting down flights two days in advance, I knew we were in for a wild time. Between two rescheduled flights, a delayed departure due to the airline staff being late, a canceled flight after TWO de-icings, a lost stroller (that was also the carseat for my 4 week old baby), a white-knuckled Uber ride in the middle of a blizzard (in which we got stuck in a drift and three unhoused gentlemen had to dig us out) to a random hotel with the only open restaurant in a 5 mile radius, and an assortment of other semi-unfortunate events — I was 30 seconds away from a full-blown crash-out of epic proportions. Thankfully, Helen was calm, collected, and so helpful in getting us rescheduled (AND reunited with the missing carseat). Eventually, we made it to our final destination — I'm so grateful we had her on our team to navigate this gargantuan task! Also, I can't forget to mention that when we booked our tickets, my child wasn't even born yet. You know how complicated it is to purchase a flight ticket for a human that kind of... doesn't exist? Well — doesn't have a passport, anyway. Yet, our travel guru made it happen. 10/10 highly recommend
Helen Arends responded
"Ahh Dana! That was quite a trip. Thank you for your kind review and let's book your next adventure!"
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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She went the extra mile
Reviewed By Becky - Willmar, MN | Traveled to Puerto Vallarta | Jalisco | Mexico
We recently booked a trip through Helen to Puerto Vallarta We were there during the unrest of the Mexican government vs the cartels. During that time Helen kept in contact with us so much so that when we shared our nephews and their wives were there having booked themselves she offered ways to help them. EVEN THOUGH THEY WERENT HER CLIENTS! Helen showed remarkable compassion and quick solutions if we were to come up against anything. She followed through from beginning to end. I would highly recommend booking your next trip through Helen.
Helen Arends responded
"Becky, so glad everything worked out well. Thank you for using my agency for your winter getaway! Let's book your next trip somewhere fun soon!"
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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The trip of wonderful memories with dearest friends!
Reviewed By theabster - San Antonio, Texas | Traveled to Cancun | Quintana Roo | Mexico
From the moment Helen started helping us with our travel plans through to the end, she was communicative and caring about every detail. We had a wonderful smooth trip enjoyed our flight and resort stay and benefits.
Helen Arends responded
"Abby, thank you so much for your kind words. I am so happy your trip was great!"
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Anniversary in Mexico
Reviewed By Danielle - Raymond, MN | Traveled to Cancun | Quintana Roo | Mexico
Helen planned a trip that exceeded all our expectations and was perfectly suited to the kind of vacation we were looking for! She made sure every detail was taken care of and gave us plenty of tips and ideas for what to do while we were there. It was so relaxing and wonderfully stress-free! We look toward to using her expertise again!
Helen Arends responded
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to find a perfect trip for you two!"
✓ I would recommend this agent to my family and friends.
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Certifications & Awards

AMA Academy
AMA Academy
Viking Expert
Viking Expert
Viking Oceans Expert
Viking Oceans Expert
Viking Rivers Expert
Viking Rivers Expert

My Places

When it comes to travel planning, real-world experience makes a huge difference. Check out the map below to see all the places I have personally visited or booked for my clients. I know these destinations well and can give you reliable guidance.
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