01Personalized
Your vacation should be built around you.
I want to understand your family, priorities, interests, and travel style before making recommendations.
Meet Mary Hartland, Your Rhode Island Travel Advisor
Hi, I'm Mary, the travel advisor behind Hartland Travels.
I'm also a wife, a mom of three, a traveler, a planner, and someone who genuinely believes that looking forward to a vacation should be part of the fun.
Hartland Travels is based in Cumberland, Rhode Island and grew from my love of travel and my desire to help other families experience incredible vacations without becoming overwhelmed by everything that goes into planning them.
I've always loved travel, especially family vacations, cruising, Walt Disney World, and Universal Orlando.
But what I love just as much is helping someone move from:
"I don't even know where to start."
to:
"I can't wait to go."
That's what Hartland Travels is about.
I don't simply want to make a reservation for you.
I want to understand who you're traveling with, what you enjoy, what matters to your family, and what you want your vacation to feel like.
Because there are thousands of places you can book a trip.
What I want to provide is something different:
Someone in your corner.
Why I Started Hartland Travels
Travel planning has changed dramatically.
Today, almost anyone can open a browser, search for flights, compare hotels, look at resorts, browse cruise ships, purchase theme park tickets, and read thousands of reviews.
The challenge isn't finding options.
It's knowing which options are right for you.
That's the part of travel planning I enjoy.
I love helping travelers take all the possibilities and turn them into something that feels manageable.
Sometimes a client already knows exactly where they want to go.
Other times, they have several ideas.
And sometimes they come to me knowing almost nothing beyond:
"We want to take a vacation."
That's okay.
You don't need to become a travel expert before contacting a travel advisor.
Part of my role is helping you figure out where to start.
Hartland Travels grew from my desire to provide that kind of personalized experience—one where clients aren't simply entering dates into a booking website but are actually talking with someone who wants to understand the trip they're trying to create.
I'm a Travel Advisor, Not a Booking Engine
You can make a travel reservation almost anywhere.
That's not what makes Hartland Travels different.
When you work with me, you work directly with me.
You're not calling an enormous customer-service center and explaining your trip again every time you speak with someone new.
You're not hoping an algorithm understands why one resort would work beautifully for your family while another wouldn't.
And you're not expected to research every possible destination, cruise line, resort, hotel, ticket option, and itinerary by yourself before asking for help.
My job is to learn about you.
Who is traveling?
What kinds of vacations have you enjoyed before?
What would you like to experience this time?
Do you like busy days or a slower pace?
What matters most to your children?
Are grandparents traveling too?
Are you celebrating something?
Do you already know where you'd like to go?
Or do you need help figuring that out?
Those conversations give us a much better starting point than simply asking:
"What's the cheapest option?"
Travel Planning Should Be Personal
No two families are exactly alike.
So why should their vacations be?
A recommendation that is perfect for one family may be completely wrong for another.
One family may want to be up early every morning and experience as much as possible.
Another may want plenty of time at the pool.
One traveler may love large cruise ships filled with entertainment and activities.
Another may prefer a destination-focused river cruise.
One family may have been dreaming about Walt Disney World for years.
Another may have teenagers who are far more excited about Universal Orlando.
Some travelers want a week at an all-inclusive Caribbean resort.
Others have a list of European cities and want help figuring out how to turn them into a realistic itinerary.
I don't believe good travel planning starts by trying to convince everyone to take the same vacation.
It starts by listening.
Family Travel Is Personal to Me
Being a mom of three gives family travel a special place in my heart.
Family vacations aren't simply about getting everyone from one place to another.
They're opportunities to step away from everyday schedules, spend time together, experience something new, and create stories your family may still be talking about years later.
They can also be complicated.
Different ages mean different interests.
Children grow, and the vacation that worked perfectly three years ago may not be the right vacation today.
Grandparents may join the trip.
Teenagers may want more independence.
Young children may need a different pace.
Parents may be trying to create an incredible experience while also hoping to enjoy the vacation themselves.
That's why I enjoy helping families think through the entire experience.
You can learn more about my approach to family and multigenerational vacation planning.
Walt Disney World Vacation Planning
Walt Disney World is one of the travel experiences I especially enjoy helping families plan.
There's something exciting about a family's first Disney vacation—or even its fifth.
But there's also a lot to think about.
Resorts, tickets, parks, dining, schedules, transportation, trip length, children's ages, and the experiences everyone is most excited about can all shape the vacation.
You don't need to know how all of that works before reaching out to me.
Helping families sort through those decisions is part of the planning experience.
If Disney is on your family's wish list, learn more about Walt Disney World vacation planning.
Cruising Is One of My Favorite Ways to Travel
Cruising is another area of travel I particularly enjoy.
I love that there are so many different ways to cruise because it means the conversation isn't simply:
"Do you want to take a cruise?"
It's:
"What kind of cruise experience would you enjoy?"
There are ocean cruises built around incredible ships and onboard experiences.
There are destination-focused itineraries.
There are family cruises.
Multigenerational cruises.
Caribbean sailings.
Alaska.
Europe.
And there are river cruises, which offer an entirely different way to experience a region.
The important part is matching the experience to the traveler.
If you're thinking about cruising, explore Hartland Travels' ocean cruise vacation planning.
Universal Orlando Vacations
Universal Orlando is another favorite focus area, especially for families looking for a theme park vacation with immersive worlds, entertainment, exciting attractions, and experiences that can appeal to children, teenagers, and adults.
Families also frequently find themselves deciding:
Disney or Universal?
Or both?
There isn't one correct answer.
I enjoy helping families think about their children's ages, interests, ride preferences, vacation length, and priorities rather than assuming every Orlando vacation should look the same.
Learn more about Universal Orlando vacation planning.
Caribbean & All-Inclusive Getaways
Sometimes a family doesn't want a complicated schedule.
Sometimes what everyone really needs is warm weather, a beach, a pool, good food, and time to relax.
That's where Caribbean and all-inclusive vacations can be a great fit.
The difficulty is choosing from the enormous number of resorts available.
Different islands and resorts can provide very different experiences, even when their websites appear similar.
I help travelers look beyond a beautiful photograph and think about what they actually want from the resort.
Families may prioritize children's activities and room configurations.
Couples may want a different atmosphere.
Multigenerational groups may need something that works for several ages.
The right choice depends on the travelers.
Explore Caribbean and all-inclusive vacation planning.
Sometimes You Don't Know Where You Want to Go
Some of my favorite planning conversations can start with very little information.
"We have a week available."
"We want to do something special for our anniversary."
"The kids are getting older and we want to take a big family vacation."
"We've always talked about Europe."
"We want somewhere warm."
"We don't know where to go. Can you help?"
Yes.
You do not need to select a destination before talking with me.
Sometimes figuring out where you should go is part of the value of working with a travel advisor.
We can begin with the experience.
What are you hoping to get out of this vacation?
Who do you want to share it with?
What kinds of places interest you?
What have you loved—or disliked—about previous trips?
Once we understand those things, destinations begin to make more sense.
What You Can Expect From Hartland Travels
0102Prepared
A reservation isn't the finish line.
I want my clients to feel prepared for their vacations rather than arriving with a confirmation number and a long list of unanswered questions.
03Relationship-Based
One of my goals is for Hartland Travels to become the travel advisor you think of whenever someone in your family asks:
"Where should we go next?"
The relationship shouldn't end when one trip does.
As I learn more about the way you travel, that knowledge can help shape future conversations and vacations.
04Detail-Oriented
Travel involves big decisions and little ones.
Where you stay matters.
So does how you get there.
The order of an itinerary matters.
So does the pace.
Details that seem small during the booking process can become important once you're actually traveling.
05Always Learning
Travel doesn't stand still.
New resorts open.
New cruise ships launch.
Theme parks change.
Destinations evolve.
Travel options, policies, and experiences change over time.
Continuing to learn is an important part of giving travelers useful guidance.
A Local Travel Advisor in Cumberland, Rhode Island
Hartland Travels is based in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
That local connection is an important part of the business.
If you're searching for a travel advisor in Cumberland, RI or a Rhode Island travel advisor, you may be looking for something very different from another national booking website.
You may want to know who's helping plan your vacation.
You may prefer having a person you can contact.
You may like the idea of building an ongoing relationship with someone who learns the way your family likes to travel.
Being based in Rhode Island also means understanding that our trips begin here.
Rhode Island families may be comparing flights from T.F. Green International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport.
Cruise travelers may be considering departures from Boston or New York.
Families may be working around Rhode Island school vacation schedules.
Those aren't necessarily the biggest decisions involved in your trip, but they are part of the experience.
I want Hartland Travels to combine that local relationship with the ability to help you experience destinations far beyond New England.
My Goal Isn't Just to Plan One Vacation
Of course I want you to love the trip we're planning right now.
But my larger goal is to build a relationship.
I want to know that when your children are older, you're comfortable reaching out again.
When you're thinking about a cruise, you call.
When an anniversary is approaching, you call.
When several generations of the family finally decide to take that big trip together, you call.
When someone says:
"We should go somewhere next year."
I want you to know exactly where to start.
That's the kind of travel planning business I'm building with Hartland Travels.
Not simply transactions.
Relationships.
Not simply reservations.
Vacations you're excited to take.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hartland Travels
01Who is the travel advisor behind Hartland Travels?
Hartland Travels is led by Mary Hartland, a travel advisor based in Cumberland, Rhode Island. Mary is a wife and mom of three with a particular interest in family vacations, cruising, Walt Disney World, and Universal Orlando.
02Where is Hartland Travels located?
Hartland Travels is based in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
03What types of vacations does Mary plan?
Hartland Travels focuses on family and multigenerational vacations, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, ocean cruises, river cruises, Caribbean and all-inclusive vacations, and personalized vacation planning.
04Do I have to know where I want to go before contacting Hartland Travels?
No. You can reach out while you're still trying to decide where to travel. Your dates, interests, budget considerations, who is traveling, and the type of experience you want can all help begin the planning conversation.
05Does Hartland Travels only work with families?
No. Family travel is an important Hartland Travels specialty, but personalized vacation planning can also be helpful for couples, adult travelers, groups, and others looking for a more personal planning experience.
06Does Hartland Travels only work with people who live in Cumberland?
No. Hartland Travels is based in Cumberland, Rhode Island, but vacation planning isn't limited to Cumberland residents.
07Why work with a travel advisor instead of booking online?
Booking websites are useful for displaying options, but they don't necessarily help determine which option is right for you. A travel advisor can help narrow choices based on your interests, priorities, family, travel style, and the overall experience you want.
08Will I work directly with Mary?
Yes. Hartland Travels is built around a direct, relationship-focused planning experience rather than an anonymous call center.
09Can Hartland Travels help with complicated or multigenerational vacations?
Yes. Hartland Travels focuses on family and multigenerational travel and can help think through trips involving different ages, interests, schedules, accommodation needs, and vacation preferences.
010How do I get started?
You don't need to prepare everything first. Contact Hartland Travels with whatever you already know about the trip you're considering. Even if all you know is when you'd like to travel and that you're ready for a vacation, that's enough to start a conversation.
Contact Mary at Hartland Travels
01Let's Start Talking About Your Next Vacation
You don't have to know exactly where you want to go.
That's worth repeating because it's one of the things I most want travelers to understand.
You can come to me with a completed wish list.
You can come with two destinations you're trying to choose between.
Or you can come with nothing more than:
"We need a vacation."
We'll start there.
Hartland Travels provides personalized travel planning from Cumberland, Rhode Island, with a focus on relationships, thoughtful recommendations, preparation, and vacations designed around the people taking them.
Phone: 401-626-5347
Email: maryhartland@hartlandtravels.com
Or explore Hartland Travels' vacation planning services.
I don't just want to help you book your next vacation. I want to be the travel advisor you think of when your family asks, "Where should we go next?"