A Season Away offers an international team of travel lifestyle veterans to help you plan out your trip of a lifetime. We can assist you and your travel advisor to figure out your main purpose or theme to the holiday, such as reconnecting with loved ones, taking a career or life break to rejuvenate, planning a family reunion, or following a passion. We'll also help you plan your unique experiences when in country, meet via phone with your VillaHost prior to departure to further refine your lifestyle choices and generally take care of all the details so you can enjoy your time away.
It's your time...
Kevin Abell - President
I have been involved with luxury travel for more than 20 years, from owning several travel agencies in the Baltimore/Washington area to being the Director of Corporate Communications for the luxury travel consortium Virtuoso, with about 600 travel agency locations in 22 countries. Prior to that I was an award-winning journalist for The Baltimore Sun.
I am excited to bring my passion for travel to this new concept of extended holidays so you can truly get a "sense of place" and absorb the local ambience in Italy or France because you are taking the right amount of time – from a week to several months – away from your day-to-day life.
Currently I am also writing a book, titled "Exit Strategy" that will detail how you can take an extended time away from your current life. The book will disclose tips on everything from negotiating with work for a mini-sabbatical to finding someone to care for an aging parent; from taking care of school-age children (I vote to bring them along for an education into how the rest of the world lives that will create an indelible impression on them) to figuring out what to do with the new "children" of the Baby Boomers: their pets; from how to handle money and paying bills to health care abroad and more.
As you will read below from our staff and can see from the bios of the A Season Away VillaHosts, we have assembled an incredible team of dedicated travel professionals to make your dreams come alive.
I encourage you to throw off the shackles of the ordinary and begin planning an extended holiday for some of the best moments of your life.
Dorothy Baszak – Travel Advisor Liaison
I began traveling shortly after finishing school ... it all started with a trip through the Middle East, where I had the opportunity to see some of the greatest wonders of the world. Travelling shows us how large the world is outside of where we live, and everytime I go somewhere new, it reminds me how much I love experiencing other cultures and seeing the world through their eyes.
France and Italy have lured me back numerous times with their vibrance, beauty and rich and inviting culture - not to mention great food and wine!
I have been fortunate to turn my passion for travel into a career. I have been in the travel industry for more than 5 years, having worked for a peer villa company, prior to coming on with A Season Away. Having had so many amazing experiences, I love the opportunity of sharing the world of travel with others, helping them create their own experiences and finding their own favorite spots.
Click here to read a conversation with Dorothy.
Bill Sanislo– Travel Advisor Liaison
I’ve been in the travel business for 30 years, and I have wonderful memories of all the places I have visited. France has always been one of my favorite destinations, since it gives me the opportunity to practice my French language skills (four years of High School French have not gone to waste!) I have always felt a special affinity for Paris, La Ville Lumière (the City of Light), as well as the Provence region in the south of France. Paris is alive with history and famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées and the Louvre, while Provence offers the best of local culture, style and of course, the legendary cuisine.
Another favorite destination of mine is the Tuscany region of Italy. While I have not yet mastered the Italian language, the local people are very accommodating and more than happy to break bread with you and share a good bottle of Chianti from a nearby vineyard. And I can assure you, that helps break down any language barrier that may exist. I look forward to working with your travel advisor to help create your own wonderful memories.
