When we are young we often conjure up exciting careers for ourselves and this is exactly what Patricia Trott, senior travel executive, at Hamilton's C Travel did.

"When I was a child I used to dream about working in travel. It held so much appeal for me as I travelled over seas with my grandmother and mother each year. I recall from the age of three visiting New York. My aunt lived in Elmira, New York and we travelled back and forth visiting her," she vividly recalled.

Mrs. Trott joined American Airlines as a ground passenger service representative in 1979 at age 20. She attended their Learning Center course in Dallas, Texas in 1979, passed the course and worked at the airport for several years.

In 1981 she opted for a travel job with Adderley Brothers and following a stay there joined Meyer Travel in Hamilton in 1986. Her years of dedication helped her become the manager of Meyer's Travel at Dockyard in 1991.

This year, on January 7, she joined C Travel where business is constantly booming due to the various creative packages they promote. Another reason so many talented people work at C Travel is because it is an employee-owned company, which believes in the power of teamwork

"I love the challenges of my work! It is so gratifying finding perfect matches for people. People are looking for different things - it might be a honeymoon weekend, a brief shopping trip before Christmas, a family trip to Disney World, an exotic cruise.

"The biggest challenge for me is satisfying my customers and it is very rewarding when clients return and give me their positives. Sometimes there are negatives too but those are rare. Usually they tell me that they loved their hotel or that their ship was beautiful," she said.

Mrs. Trott said there are lots of great travel deals this year, such as a Mother's Day Weekend Getaway frm May 10 through May 13 to Newark, New Jersey via Continental Airlines.

The package includes round trip airfare with three nights accommodation at the Hilton Gateway Hotel with a complimentary shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Prices range from $690 for the single, $540 for the double, $490 for the triple and $465 for the quad.

There is a great Princess Alaska Cruise Special May through September with prices from $649 per person inside stateroom to $1,449 per person mini-suite with balcony.

You could travel to New Orleans, Louisiana and enjoy the 2002 Essence Music Festival July 4, 5, and 6 via Continental Airlines from Bermuda for $640 per person. Hotel accommodation and tickets for the music festival can be arranged prior to leaving Bermuda.

One of the best deals for Caribbean cruising is 13 days on the Norwegian Majesty which boards from St. George's, Bermuda on October 29 and goes to San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, Curacao, Aruba, Bahamas and returns to Miami, Florida on November 11. The cruise and airfare cost is $2200 per person returning to Bermuda on November 12.

If you want to take a summer cruise with your family, Carnival's Victory offers an ocean view stateroom for $2070 and leaves Miami August 18 and goes to Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios and returns to Miami on August 25. This is a great seven-day cruise to enjoy with the children before returning to school in September. VSB Radio host, Peter Lewis will be aboard.

"I like the idea of assisting people with their travel plans. My work produces happy endings as a result of my experience and dedication. I love groups. I am really looking forward to the music show in New Orleans this July," said Mrs. Trott.

If you would like to start your cruise from the UK this summer it would be a great chance to take a Carnival Legend cruise from London for a 12 day Northern Europe Cruise from Harwich August 24 with a return on September 5 to London.

VSB Radio host Shirley Dill will be aboard this cruise to Copenhagen, Berlin, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Russia, Tallinn, Estonia and Amsterdam.

Ocean-view staterooms sell for $3850 per person and include round trip airfare Bermuda-London via British Airways, one night pre hotel accommodation, all taxes and on board ship gratuities, a C Travel flight bag and an escort.

"Whatever your dream trip is we can make it a reality be it a cruise, a tour of London, Paris, Rome or a quick weekend in the US.

"We are offering a Caribbean wedding package through Sandals to visit St. Lucia, Bahamas, Antigua, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril."

Mrs. Trott can help you define your travel plans be it an exotic cruise or a mini break. Plan a Thanksgiving holiday, November 27 through December 1, to New York for the great price of $378.75.

Mrs. Trott will gladly help you "C the world with C Travel" as their slogan says, so get in touch and start airing out your suitcases.

She is married to Alton Trott and they have a son, age 15, Alton Omar.