When I was 3 years old, my Mother and younger brother and I, took a train from New York to Seattle, where we boarded a ship bound for my Father, serving in Japan.  My Father was determined that we see everything within distance of our new home. All of his time off, we spent traveling throughout the country, going to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo one day, then off to see the Great Buddha in Kamakura another day. We traveled by car through villages still impoverished from World War II, and to Tokyo undergoing revitalization and modernization. We took our lunches and boarded the train to go up to Mt. Fuji.  After 2 years in Japan, we moved back to the US, again by ship. Troop Carrier Ships are not nearly as nice as today’s cruise ships, but I fell in love with the sea.

My Dad received orders to Orleans, France, but my mother was pregnant with my youngest brother, and we were not allowed to follow Dad until my brother was 6 months old. This time we got to fly.  What a treat that was, flying across the ocean. 
Once again in France, my Father made sure that we spent every minute of his leave traveling to every country we could.  By the time I was twelve, I had been to most European capitals, as well as museums, monuments, battlefields, and about any historic thing there was in Europe.  Paris was a monthly trip for us, and I loved it. The old buildings, the people, the food.

I, of course, married into the military. My husband was in the Air Force, and although we never had an overseas assignment, we traveled extensively in the US. We were stationed on both the East Coast and West Coast, and in between both coasts.  We raised our kids the way I was raised, taking in whatever historic place we could.

Once our children moved on to their own lives and we started to travel overseas again. First to Peru, where we climbed up to Machu Picchu and the amazing sights and sounds in Peru. Of course, we went to Mexico and climbed to the top of Chichen Itza. Sadly, that is off limits now because so many people climbed it was becoming damaged.

We started cruising, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Tahiti and the Society Islands and River cruising, through Europe and to Russia. We have traveled to England, Scotland, Wales, France, The Cook Islands and Australia. I have led more 10 groups of travelers on trips all over the world.

I have been in the Business of Travel for 5 years, but I have been in the travel business all of my life. I have been to over 21 countries on 5 continents.

My goal as a Travel Specialist is to keep the knowledge of each location fresh, and to find exciting ideas for my clients.  I provide a quality service, and handle each detail from the first conversation to their welcome home “how was it call?” personally.  I care what each person wants and I try to give them that and more.

My favorite destinations include Vancouver; Paris; Sydney; St. Petersburg, Russia; Tahiti and the Cook Islands. Washington, D.C and Seattle are my favorite US destinations.

I have extensive experience in planning cruises, including River Cruises. I am qualified as a Specialist or Expert in 16 different cruise lines, and also in several tour vendors as well as destinations.  I love learning about new exciting places, and when I plan travel for my clients I try to bring that excitement to them also.  I maintain my extensive knowledge by traveling at least once each year to a location that is new to me, and attending travel and cruise conferences as well as taking online travel courses.

What my clients say about me

Leading the group through the trees.

In the past seven years my husband and I have taken 8 trips planned by Carol Bien. We have traveled to several Western European Countries, Russia, Alaska, the British Isles and through the Panama Canal. We have traveled by plane, train, helicopter, cruise ship and river boat. Everything goes smoothly. She thinks of everything; transfers, luggage, hotels and local side trips. Her knowledge of destinations and amenities as well as possible problems is remarkable. We cannot imagine traveling with anyone else. Phyllis and John