Mary McGrath
Red Bank, New Jersey Travel Agent
The Travel Bug Vacation Planners, LLC, a Travel Leaders Network affiliate agency
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Custom Honeymoon and Vacation Specialist
In so many ways, travel is transformative. It allows people to experience the beauty of another destination, and to interact with locals who enjoy different customs and traditions. It allows us to realize that the world isn't such a big place after all — and while we are so different from people across the globe, we also are very much the same.
My clients range from couples to families as well as groups, whether it is a family and friends group or a group with a similar interest in mind, such as a wine-themed river cruise group.
I am a also a honeymoon and romance travel specialist, and I especially love working with engaged couples who are planning the first big adventure of their married lives. My favorite honeymoon destinations are:
• The South Pacific — The countries in this region of the world allow honeymooners to relax on pristine beaches while also developing an appreciation for a new culture. I have planned honeymoons to Tahiti, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Australia and New Zealand. I am a destination specialist for the Cook Islands as well as for Tahiti and the Islands of French Polynesia, and I have traveled to these regions several times myself. My clients enjoy my personal recommendations and they benefit from my professional expertise in this region.
• South Africa — South Africa is an exotic honeymoon destination, and it allows people to enjoy an exciting, thrilling, romantic and relaxing vacation after their big day. I am a South Africa Fundi specialist, and one of my favorite vacations was a trip to this remarkable country. I always tell my clients that they simply have to go to Boulder Beach in Cape Town to see the African penguins, and I recommend Kruger National Park for a safari adventure.
• Morocco — In the past year, I took my first trip to Morocco. I have to say it ranks right up there with the South Pacific and South Africa! I loved exploring this beautiful country, meeting such friendly people and learning about their culture. I even took a camel ride to the Sahara and camped overnight in the desert (quite a highlight for me!)
I am known for my detailed vacation itineraries as well as my superior customer service. I am committed to continuing my education, and I focus on learning the latest technology in order to better assist my clients.
I believe that everyone deserves a stress-free vacation where the only thing they have to worry about is what they will pack in their bags. I will customize your vacation to fit your personal needs and desires, and I am committed to making sure that you enjoy an unforgettable getaway. Contact me today in order to begin planning!
Testimonials from honeymoon couples
Mount Otemanu, Bora Bora
"Mary made all of our honeymoon dreams come true. She thought of everything. She made reservations for day trips so we didn't have to worry about it. She provided us with all the vouchers before we left with an itinerary so we knew just what to expect. We also had to call her while we were away to change a day trip and her response was immediate. We loved her so much we used her to help plan our next vacation. I would not use anyone else."
"We went to South Africa for our honeymoon. Mary planned the perfect Safari for us followed by an extremely romantic getaway to the Seychelles Islands. She took care of all the details from flights, getting around while on vacation, to accommodations."
"Had the MOST AMAZING time! We can't thank you enough!"
My Areas of Expertise
CERTIFICATES & AWARDS
Certified Tahiti Tiare Specialist
South Africa Fundi Specialist
The best vacation planner ever!
Reviewed By LauraH - Lincroft, NJ | Traveled to
Mary organized every detail for two of our favorite vacations: a two week stay / cruise in Hawaii and a fabulous "vacation of a lifetime" trip to Jade Mountain in St. Lucia. She was attentive to every detail and all we had to do was get on the plane and go! Everything was perfect from start to finish, and I highly recommend her.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
12 of 23 people found this review helpful
GShe is great in a pinch.
Reviewed By Laurie - New York, NY | Traveled to
Mary has "come through' for me and my friends again and again. She is practical and positive. She knows what is possble and has helped me with three trips. She is helpful for even a single traveler like me, who is not into super lavish tours. I like to learn things as I travel and Mary has steered me to good connections and tours.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
13 of 25 people found this review helpful
Great Experience
Reviewed By KG - Ocean, NJ | Traveled to
It was great to work with Mary to plan our honeymoon! She was able to provide us with exactly what we were looking for! Mary was also very response to our questions and concerns. We ran into a few small (unavoidable) issues while on our honeymoon and it was very comforting to have Mary just an email away. She responded quickly to help our issue get resolved. It was a pleasure to work with Mary; We highly recommend her.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
7 of 16 people found this review helpful
Perfect, thorough planning
Reviewed By Patrick K. - New York, NY | Traveled to
Mary booked a trip to Costa Rica/Jamaica for me. She built a flawless itinerary and walked me through every detail of the trip. She even let a couple of surf clubs know that I was on my way--when I arrived in Tamarindo, they were waiting for my call! Both the Costa Rica and Jamaican resorts were perfectly suited to me and I had many new friends by the time I eventually returned home. It was a first-class trip from a first-class professional.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
9 of 20 people found this review helpful
Helped us pull off a surprise for our kids!
Reviewed By Monica - Manasquan, NJ | Traveled to
We planned on driving to Disney with our 11 year old son and 8 year old daughter. They had no idea. It was a complete surprise and their 1st time there. We thought we could find a place off-site on our own plus tickets to the parks. It proved a lot tougher then we thought. In comes Mary at The Travel Bug! I looked up local agencies close to my work and there she was. I emailed my request and in roughly 24 hours she had several options to choose from. In a nutshell, we ended up in a great place and had the exact park tickets needed. The trip was a huge success and she kept us within the budget we had projected. She was easy, accessible and a pleasure to deal with. My next trip, although sadly, not soon enough will be planned by The Travel Bug for sure!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
9 of 20 people found this review helpful
Our bucket list trip
Reviewed By patty - Monroe, NJ | Traveled to Johannesburg ~ South Africa ~ Africa
Working with Mary was a pleasure. She was very informed and knowledgable and responded quickly when we had questions
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Mary McGrath responded:
Thank you so much for your review. I am so glad you enjoyed your trip and were able to see all the animals while on safari and at the Chimpanzee camp.
Thank you so much for your review. I am so glad you enjoyed your trip and were able to see all the animals while on safari and at the Chimpanzee camp.
10 of 23 people found this review helpful
Amazing!!
Reviewed By Sarah - Point Pleasant, NJ | Traveled to
Our travel agent, Mary McGrath, was absolutely amazing in helping my husband and I plan our honeymoon to Costa Rica. She was very knowledgeable and provided us with ample information. Mary was readily available to answer any of our questions. She was patient, helpful, and truly helped us enjoy the planning process. Even when we got to our destination, Mary made sure that all of our accommodations were met and our schedule was organized. We will be seeking Mary's assistance for our upcoming trips!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
11 of 25 people found this review helpful
THOROUGH
Reviewed By Javaboy - RED BANK, NJ | Traveled to
Mary always thoroughly researched the areas my wife and I showed interest in,....and added other choices and options. Once a destination was determined, Mary would seek out the best deals and make suggestions and recommendations that she thought may enhance our vacation experience. On more than one occasion, she actually brought material to our house, so we wouldn't have to travel anywhere to get our paperwork......That's above and beyond.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
9 of 21 people found this review helpful
She organized a dream vacation for us
Reviewed By Chez Cheri - Little Silver, NJ | Traveled to
Mary did an outstanding job of planning a dream vacation for us in St. Lucia. She found a beautiful hotel for us and was able to get us a fabulous upgrade. There was even a bottle of wine waiting for us in our room. She is so easy to work with and extremely knowledgeable. She has been to so many of the locations that we are interested in and can give insider's tips. I highly recommend using Mary for your next vacation.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
9 of 21 people found this review helpful
She'll make your Dreams come true.
Reviewed By Barefoot JD - NJ | Traveled to
When you trust Mary to plan your vacation, you know it will be great. She is careful and thoughtful, providing ideas and making sure you get exactly what you want. When you work with Mary, you're not just a customer, she treats you like family. She is knowledgeable, courteous and thorough. She answers all of your questions and makes sure the little special things are done right. Mary has helped our family book trips of a lifetime, including a Disney cruise for 4 of us, and a trip to Dreams Punta Cana for 22 people to celebrate a 50th birthday. We will not hesitate to let Mary help us plan all our vacations to come.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
7 of 17 people found this review helpful
Mary made our first cruise experience perfect!!
Reviewed By mg - Belmar, NJ | Traveled to
My husband and I wanted to do something extra special for our 30th wedding anniversary. We decided to try a cruise, but had zero experience in this area. Mary McGrath helped us sign up for the right cruise and made sure that all of our arrangements were accurate and complete. Because of her professionalism, we will remember our anniversary trip for years to come!!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
9 of 22 people found this review helpful
Mary was fantastic!!
Reviewed By Lisa - Huntington, NY | Traveled to
Mary did a fantastic job planning our honeymoon. She gave us great advise and made the whole experience stress free. We were so impressed by her organization and we loved how she packaged all of our documents and itinerary. It was easy every step of the way and we loved the arrangements. We were especially impressed when we lost a bag and she contacted us and asked if everything was okay and if we needed any help- amazing! I would highly recommend Mary!!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
8 of 20 people found this review helpful
She made the whole planning process so easy!
Reviewed By Theresa B - Red Bank, NJ | Traveled to
My husband and I went to Mary to plan our Honeymoon. She was the absolute best!! She worked with our budget and helped suggest destinations that fit what we were looking for. We went to Bermuda and it was incredible. The resort was amazing! During the whole process Mary was extremely responsive and was able to get us a great deal!! We will definitely be going back to her for upcoming vacations!!! I highly recommend her!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
8 of 21 people found this review helpful
Ireland
Reviewed By Jodi - New Jersey | Traveled to
Mary did a great job planning our trip. We had 10 days to spend in Ireland and she made sure we got to see all the major sightseeing spots plus some extras. The trip had a great flow to it.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
6 of 17 people found this review helpful
Dream honeymoon!
Reviewed By Chris and Mg - Howell, NJ | Traveled to
When my wife and I were planning our wedding, the only thing we had locked down was the band and we wanted to honeymoon in Tahiti. Of course, booking travel across the world is a daunting enough task, but the fear was whether or not the places you would stay would be all what you wanted. After doing A LOT or research, we decided to meet with a few travel agents (as well as book your own online) and ended up coming back to Mary. It made us comfortable that she specialized in Tahiti vacations, and it seemed like she genuinely wanted to help you plan your vacation instead of sell you a vacation. She was a wealth of knowledge about the hotels, the several islands of Tahiti, and what each had to offer. By the time all was said and done, she managed to get us exactly what we wanted within our budget, from flight to transfer between islands. We couldn't have asked for more! The places she came up with for us was everything she said they were. We were so impressed with her that we went back to for booking to Disney January of this year and was equally pleased with the result then as well!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
7 of 19 people found this review helpful
Italy and Greece 2018
Reviewed By Phil and Maria - Red Bank, NJ | Traveled to Europe
This was our first time working with Mary and we would certainly choose her again. We went to one of the bigger travel agencies prior to Mary, who told us that they would put something together and come back to us, but we never heard from them again. We decided to give our business to a local agent, which is how we found Mary. This trip was not like our others, it was more complex and we needed destination local assistance because they were unfamiliar to us (four destinations in two weeks). We needed local ground assistance and lodging options, as well as how to get from points A, B, C, D. We gave Mary a framework of destinations and asked her to put the whole thing together. We didn't know if boats, trains, planes were the most preferred and effective method and this is where Mary's expertise really shined. While being away for two weeks not one itinerary item was altered, delayed, or a problem. We have referred friends and family to Mary.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Mary McGrath responded:
Thank you so much for your kind review. It was my pleasure to work with you as well!
Thank you so much for your kind review. It was my pleasure to work with you as well!
10 of 26 people found this review helpful
simply wonderful
Reviewed By dee - eatontown,nj | Traveled to
she is outstanding as a trvel agent and I feela friend. Mary has planned at lelast 10 trips for me and no problems. I have suggested her to ffamily members and friends and they have continued to use her. She has helped out in emergencies such as expired ppassports. She has even heoped with carity projects. Mary is a gem.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
8 of 22 people found this review helpful
Travel Expert
Reviewed By SC562 - North Bergen, New Jersey | Traveled to Cozumel ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
Mary was referred to me by our wedding planner. She was able to find us a GREAT DEAL to a secrets resort in the Caribbean and we were thrilled with the resort. Mary was very attentive to our needs and ensured we got the best deal.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Mary McGrath responded:
Thank you, Steve. It was a pleasure to work with you in planning your honeymoon! ~ Mary
Thank you, Steve. It was a pleasure to work with you in planning your honeymoon! ~ Mary
10 of 27 people found this review helpful
Thoughtful and knowledgeable
Reviewed By Scott - Fair Haven, NJ | Traveled to
Mary McGrath was incredibly helpful and incredibly knowledgeable as my wife and I planned our honeymoon. She worked around my schedule and was always available to assist us in planning what ended out to be a dream hineymoon. I would recommend and have recommended Mary multiple times as a result of an overwhelmingly positive experience planning my honeymoon.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
8 of 23 people found this review helpful
Wow! what an adventure we had!
Reviewed By Sarah - Point Pleasant, NJ | Traveled to
We just got back from our trip and Wow! what an adventure we had! The ranch was beautiful and the views were breathtaking. The staff at the ranch couldn't have been nicer and more accommodating. The food was fantastic and there was a great variety. I overheard people asking for specific dietary needs ( vegan/gluten free) and the chef made every meal to meet people's needs. John and I ate everything!! They make you a packed lunch since many people are out hiking or fishing throughout the day, which worked great for us. This trip was truly for someone who loves the outdoors. We went hiking, fishing, took a tour of the fish hatchery, toured the town (which has a population of 63!!! haha!!) and went horseback riding. John kept saying how much he loved the trip and he even wants to plan on going back! All in all I would say it was a complete success from start to finish. The only "surprise" was that when we woke up each morning it was in the 20's and 30's but by lunchtime it would reach 70/80 degrees. The range in temperature was amazing. Thank you again for all your help in planning this trip. John and I made memories that will last a lifetime!! I'm sure we will talk soon to plan for the wedding in St.Lucia!!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
4 of 16 people found this review helpful
She knows us so well!
Reviewed By Mary McGrath - Red Bank NJ | Traveled to
Mary McGrath is a very thorough travel agent she has been planning trip for my husband and I for years
She always has good advice and travel tips and knows just what places we would love to stay at.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
6 of 20 people found this review helpful
Amazing honeymoon!
Reviewed By Mandy - Cranford, NJ | Traveled to Hawaii ~ USA
Mary planned an amazing honeymoon in Hawaii for us. We spent time on both Maui and Kauai. Mary planned fun activities for us and we still had time to relax and explore the islands. Mary made our travels stress free, we did not have to worry about anything! Thank you Mary!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
6 of 22 people found this review helpful
Wonderful
Reviewed By Joe - Ledgewood, NJ | Traveled to
Mary has arranged three trips for us over the last few years. One to Italy, one to Alaska and one to London, the London trip being the most recent. In each instance, her suggestions and advice were right on. She always found the best hotels that met our needs. We trusted her judgement and she worked to find us hotels that met our budget and were in locations that we would not have known to choose but we realized the value of when we arrived and were very grateful for her suggestion. Even when we chose a tour against her advice, we realized she was correct in her assessment when we went on the tour and regretted not listening. We are planning a couple of new trips and will definitely engage her when we are ready.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
4 of 18 people found this review helpful
Takes the stress off of planning!
Reviewed By Nancy P. - Metuchen, NJ | Traveled to
My family and friends have used Mary McGrath for a couple of years. She has made the planning process so easy in all instances. From a first-time family vacation to Disney (including where to stay, dining in the park, etc.) to adult only vacations with friends, every vacation was excellent! Mary's knowledge of the resorts and ability to accommodate all of our many requests has always been fantastic. Thanks, Mary, for your continued professional service.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
8 of 29 people found this review helpful