Laura Donovan – Concierge Travel Advisor | All-Inclusive Resorts, Theme Parks & Ocean Cruises

Laura Donovan is a Concierge Travel Advisor with Favorite Grampy Travels, specializing in all-inclusive vacations, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and ocean cruises, based in Fallston, Maryland.

Over a Thousand Trips and I Still Get Excited About Every One

I’ve planned over a thousand vacations for families, couples, and multigenerational groups. Theme parks, all-inclusive resorts, cruises, Caribbean islands. Every trip is different because every family is different.

Universal Orlando named me one of the Top 5 travel agents across all agencies during a nationwide contest in early 2024. I earned Top Universal Sales in both 2023 and 2024, plus Top International Sales and Top Overall Sales in 2024.

Those numbers come from one thing. I treat every client like they’re my only client.

Why Families Come Back to Me Year After Year

I’ve spent my entire career in customer service. Seventeen years as a dental assistant, eight years as a real estate agent, and eight years in health and wellness before I became a travel advisor. Every one of those roles taught me the same lesson: listen first, anticipate needs, and respond fast.

That shows up in how clients describe me. “Super responsive.” “Above and beyond.” “Treats every client as if they are her only client.” One client said, “What a legend,” and wanted to give more than five stars for first-class service. Those words mean more to me than any sales award.

When you reach out, I respond quickly. When you have questions, I answer all of them, even the thousandth one. When something changes, I find the workaround.

Aruba: Five Visits, One Favorite Island

I’ve been to Aruba five times. I’ve eaten at the local spots most tourists miss, walked to dinner and entertainment along the Palm Beach strip, rented cars to tour the island, and brought my family back again and again because we can’t stay away.

Aruba isn’t for everyone because it’s “desert Caribbean.” It’s not the lush tropical look people expect from the islands. But the trade winds, the consistently sunny weather (Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt), and the walkable beachfront make it one of the easiest Caribbean trips for first-time international travelers and seasoned cruisers alike.

Aruba is also seeing major growth this year. The new oceanfront tower at the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort, called The Westerly, opened in early 2026 with adults-only swim-up rooms and a rooftop lounge. For couples and adults-only travelers, it’s one of the most exciting Caribbean openings of the year.

All-Inclusive, Theme Park, or Cruise: Same Care, Same Detail

Many clients first find me through Universal Orlando or Walt Disney World. Others come to me for Sandals, Punta Cana, Royal Caribbean, or Disney Cruise Line.

The destinations are different. The level of care isn’t.

I’m certified across seven cruise lines including Royal Caribbean Master of Adventure, Norwegian Master’s, Princess Commodore, Celebrity, MSC, Virgin Voyages Gold Level, and Disney Cruise Line. I’m also a Sandals & Beaches Certified Specialist, a Hilton All-Inclusive Resorts Certified Specialist, and a Hyatt Inclusive Collection Confidant. Across theme parks I hold College of Disney Knowledge, Universal Orlando Specialist, Adventures by Disney, Aulani, and SeaWorld certifications.

Planning a great vacation is like putting together a puzzle. Time of year, group size, budget, dietary needs, mobility considerations, age ranges. Every piece has to fit, and that’s the part I love most.

Travel Is the Gift Our Family Gives Each Other

I’m a wife and a mom to two daughters, nineteen and fifteen. We’ve built our whole family around experiences over things. Every Christmas, the “experience” gift is the favorite gift, and the most-remembered one years later.

Multigenerational travel is personal for me. We lost my husband’s parents when our daughters were really young, and that loss shaped how we travel.

We made a point of taking trip after trip with my parents so the girls would have those memories. Now I get to help other families do the same: grandparents taking grandchildren to Disney for the first time, parents planning a milestone trip with extended family, families building memory banks while everyone’s still together.

Based in Fallston, Maryland, I work with families across the country. When I’m not at my desk planning trips, you’ll find me on a beach with a book, skiing in Park City, or planning our family’s next adventure.

My favorite advice to clients with kids? Take the trip. Your kids are only young once.

Family Travel Planning Questions

Q: What does Laura Donovan specialize in?

I specialize in family travel across all-inclusive resorts, theme parks, and ocean cruises. With over a thousand trips planned and certifications across seven cruise lines, all major Disney products, Universal Orlando, Sandals, Hilton all-inclusives, and Hyatt inclusive resorts, I help families pick the right destination and execute every detail.

Q: How do you decide between an all-inclusive resort and a cruise?

It depends on how your family relaxes. All-inclusive resorts are best for families who want to settle in, unpack once, and stay put; cruises are better for travelers who want to see multiple destinations without packing and unpacking. I help match your travel style to the right format.

Q: Why do families keep coming back to you for trip after trip?

Repeat clients tell me it’s three things: I respond quickly, I’m extremely organized, and I treat their trip like it’s the only one I’m planning. I also watch for price drops after booking and pass the savings along, so they’re never paying more than they have to.