For many of us, travel seems like a distant memory. But with the pandemic (hopefully!) winding down, it’s not uncommon to hear friends and family eagerly discussing their next travel destinations, with some even boarding cruise ships in search of their next adventure.

As any experienced traveler can attest to, planning a trip may take weeks or even months to successfully pull off. Kris Monroe, owner of Quality Cruises & Travel, a Manitou Springs-based travel agency, makes the entire experience pain-free, however, with dozens of repeat customers singing her praises. One particularly happy traveler recalled how Monroe helped 48 wedding guests rearrange their travel plans following a hurricane. 

Problem-solving is second nature to Monroe. Before entering the travel industry, she was the executive director of a nonprofit in Colorado Springs, a role that honed her ability to brainstorm creative solutions. Eventually, though, she realized she was ready for a change and began working for Quality Cruises. Incidentally, the couple who hired her—an airline pilot and his wife—had worked with her at the non-profit. 

After losing his wife to cancer, the pilot sold the business to Monroe. Her first group trip to Branson, Missouri was such a hit that 22 years later, the business is still going strong and adding new travel destinations every year.

Personal and Memorable

COVID presented its own set of unique challenges, which Monroe took in stride. 

“Every country has different entry requirements, and it’s a very volatile situation,” she said. “You might know the requirements now, only for them to change a month later.” 

Despite these finicky travel requirements, Monroe’s passion for travel remains unshakable. A world traveler herself, she helps local and out-of-state travelers alike reach their dream destinations, from idyllic North American locations like Canada and Hawaii to far-flung adventures in more distant locales, like Spain and Scotland. 

And Monroe is with her clients every step of the way. Rather than providing run-of-the-mill experiences, she takes the time to understand her customers’ interests and provide them with multiple options tailored to their desires. 

“Every vacation is a personal experience,” she explained. “And those few weeks we have off each year are extremely important.” 

Monroe said she has a “great responsibility” to make each experience memorable for her customers. She does her homework, often visiting places she wouldn’t otherwise in her efforts to answer questions and guide them along their journey.

Monroe doesn’t hesitate when describing her favorite world destination. 

“As my husband puts it, Africa is like being in your own ‘National Geographic,’” she said. “[In Kenya,] we saw an antelope give birth. By the time we drove away, the baby was trotting alongside its mother. We had tears streaming down our faces as we watched.” 

She also saw lions carrying their cubs in their mouths, as well as hardworking Maasai tribeswomen building houses out of mud and cow dung. 

“It was an incredibly humbling experience. We didn’t think we could top it each day, but we did,” she said. 

The trip was so memorable, in fact, that Monroe and her husband are returning this December, to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.

Upcoming Tours

Monroe has her sights set on a New Year’s Eve cruise aboard a sternwheeler, where travelers will spend five days on the Mississippi River. In 2023, she plans a tour of snowy Yellowstone National Park. But if you’re itching to see the other side of the Atlantic, take a rail trip to Switzerland in August 2023. 

These excursions are a fun way to spend quality time with family and to make new friends with fellow travelers. 

For her group tours, Monroe estimated that half of her customers travel alone, while the other half are accompanied by one or more companions. 

“Whether it’s a day trip or a longer tour, they truly become a group by the end of the trip,” she said. 

If you’re still on the fence about all the benefits of travel, consider following Monroe’s advice: “All the time I hear people saying, ‘Someday I’ll travel.’ Don’t wait for someday because someday may never come. If you’re physically able to travel, do it now.”