Joy Hammer, CTC, DS

Interests & Specialties
Joy has been with Central Travel for 7 years, but spent her entire life traveling!  She holds a Destination Specialist certification for Mexico, Alaska and Spain.  Joy has been everywhere from Belize to Thailand and has visited almost every major island in the Caribbean.  Joy is located in Central Travel's Perrysburg, OH office and can be reached at 419 874-2457, 888 295-5038 or joyh@centraltravel.com

Expert Bio
Joy Hammer loves to travel and she is passionate about Mexico!  As a Mexico Destination Specialist, she has traveled extensively throughout México more than a dozen times, not only the numerous coastal resort areas, but much of the interior as well.  Spending usually a week or more at each destination, she has enjoyed the beaches of Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel, Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, and Acapulco. In the past several years, Joy has spent time vacationing at Secrets Maroma and Secrets Capri (beautiful, adults-only resorts in the Riviera Maya).  She also recently participated in a hotel inspection tour of Cancun and Riviera Maya and reports that the hotels and the beaches are better than ever!

What she really enjoys, however, are the colonial towns, such as Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Taxco, Campeche, etc.  She has also toured numerous archaeological sites, such as Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Tulum, Palenque, Edzná, Ek Balam, Monte Albán, Mitla, and Teotihuacán. Traveling by rental car or local bus, she has been able to explore many areas of México.  Joy would love to help you find the area or resort that is perfect for your next vacation!

My Recent TripsI

River Cruising - what a wonderful way to see Europe!

Picture yourself relaxing in a deck chair as your floating hotel slowly passes scenic landscapes. Stroll from the  ship directly into the center of medieval towns and quaint villages. Leisurely, guided walking tours are included, with plenty of time to explore  on your own. Take a moment to just sit at a cafe to enjoy a Heineken, or sample a local specialty such as a Belgian waffle or "frites" (french fries) with mayonnaise.

River cruises carry less than 200 passengers, so there are no long lines anywhere. No traffic-jammed highways.  No need to pack and unpack.  And, since all meals, wine at dinner, and numerous shore excursions are included, you don't need to  worry about expenses adding up or currency exchange rates.

In August 2010, I had the pleasure of cruising the Danube River on the new River Beatrice, part of the Uniworld River Cruise Collection.  Simply 1 captivating city or town after another!  First, we were able to spend 3 days in Prague prior to our cruise; what a beautiful city!  Known as the “City of Spires”, the architecture is stunning!  With most river cruises, you can travel in either direction, so we began our cruise in Passau, Germany, home to Europe’s largest pipe organ; hearing a concert in the over 300 year old Cathedral was a highlight!  From there, we explored the UNESCO World Heritage town of Salzburg, where we had plenty of time to wander at leisure after our included walking tour.  The next day we toured the 900 year old Benedictine Abbey of Melk, followed by a scenic cruise thru the beautiful Wachau Valley.  And, just enough time for a wine tasting at a local vineyard in the quaint village of Dürnstein.  Then, on to imperial Vienna, again with included sightseeing as well as free time.  Of course, we had to sample the famous Sacher Torte – delicious!  But, the best was yet to come – Budapest – simply 1 of the loveliest cities in all Europe!  We spent an extra day there at the end of our 7-night cruise, but still not enough time to see and do all that we wanted.

In early April 2009, I enjoyed a "Tulip Time Cruise" on the Rhine River thru The Netherlands and Belgium, on Avalon Waterways, part of the Globus Family of Brands.  We began in the capital city of Amsterdam, home to over 150 canals, and 700,000 bikes (of which about 25,000 end up in the canals each year!) A Hop-On/Hop-Off canal cruise was the perfect way to navigate the city, passing beautiful old homes and houseboats that lined the canals. For museum lovers, famous Dutch masters can be seen in the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh.  And, the Anne Frank House is a definite must.  The Netherlands is a fascinating country, with over 27% of the land below sea level, reclaimed from the sea.  We saw numerous picturesque windmills, and listened as the miller explained how important they still are today. Another day, we toured 1 of the world's most complex engineering projects, the Delta Works, with a storm flood barrier almost 6 miles long, and which took 30 years to complete.

Our port stops included the beautiful seaport city of Antwerp and the medieval town of Ghent, both in Belgium.  A optional excursion that I highly recommend is the lovely town of Bruges, which is truly 1 of the most charming places I've  ever had the pleasure of touring. Anyone interested in World War II history will enjoy the guided tour of the Liberty Museum.  But, the highlight of the cruise was spending the day at the fabulous Keukenhof Gardens, open only 9 weeks each year, and displaying over 7 million daffodils and tulips in every color imaginable!

River Cruises are offered not just on the Rhine and Danube Rivers, but on various rivers throughout France, Germany, Portugal, and other areas of Europe.  They are also available in China, Egypt, and the Galapagos Islands.  Ask us about themed cruises, such as Wine Cruises, Jazz Cruises, or the festive Christmas Market cruises!  

Or, perhaps you prefer a larger cruiseship, with more entertainment and activities?  That is another option when visiting Europe!  There are numerous ships of various sizes that sail everywhere from England to Scandinavia to Russia and in-between!  In October 2011, I spent 11 nights on the Azamara Journey, a smaller vessel (under 700 passengers) that specializes in longer port stays, even multiple days.  Our trip began in Rome, with stops in Florence, Monte Carlo, Nice, Barcelona, Granada, Gibraltar, Seville, and ended in Lisbon.  Azamara is unique in that they include all crew gratuities in the fare, and offer complimentary wine at both lunch and dinner, along with bottled water and sodas.  Although children are welcome on-board, there are not activities geared to them, so most guests are 50’s and up.  As a result, the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed, although there still are plenty of activities for those who choose!  Many guests, however, like to take advantage of evenings in port, perhaps enjoying the luxurious Casino in Monte Carlo or strolling La Rambla in Barcelona. 

No matter your destination, you'll experience the very best that each location has to offer.  Contact me for suggestions and recommendations!

Costa Rica.....a small country whose slogan "No Artificial Ingredients" really sums up this beautiful, eco-tourist friendly destination.  While there in October 2008, I enjoyed lovely beaches in the Guanacaste area on the Pacific coast, spotting turtles in Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast, hiking through the Cloud Forest of Monteverde, and watching lava spew from Arenal Volcano.  The biodiversity in Costa Rica is astounding - I saw howler and spider monkeys, tree sloths, alligators, basilisk lizards that run on top of the water, and numerous tropical birds including the gorgeous resplendent quetzal.  I found time for rafting, kayaking, zip-lining, and soaking in Hot Springs, but there are also opportunities for horseback riding, snorkeling and diving, canopy tours across hanging bridges, and of course excellent golfing.  Costa Rica is truly a nature lover's paradise!

Portugal - such a small country with so much to offer!  We began our journey in the fall of 2007 in the capital of Lisbon, exploring its rich cultural heritage, historic neighborhoods, and great nightlife, and ended with a few days relaxing on the breathtaking beaches of the Algarve. 

In between, we toured the picturesque village of Sintra with its 2 fabulous palaces, the charming walled towns of Obidos and Evora, and the magnificent monasteries of Alcobaca and Batalha.  From dramatic coastline to lush green landscapes, the countryside was simply beautiful.  Sampling the varied cuisine and wines, especially port, was an enjoyable "must"! 

We spent several nights in historic Pousadas, which are castles, convents, fortresses or palaces, and very atmospheric. English is spoken almost everywhere, and we appreciated the fact that Portugal is a better value than other European countries.  Portugal truly has something for everyone!