Andover Colpitts Travel , now located at 13 Main Street, recently relocated from Andover Village after 10 years.

Owner Kasia Miatkowski decided to move when her lease was up, and she could not remain in the courtyard location. Although Andover Village offered her alternative space, she said it was not feasible.

Miatkowski said she now loves looking out on Main Street from her second floor office. The only drawback is the stairs to get there.  But Miatkowski said that she is happy to meet her customers at Starbucks or anywhere. "My business is not generally walk-in, and I have a laptop," she explained.

For over 11 years as owner, Miatkowski, originally from Poland, has built up her travel business with repeat customers and referrals. Prior to Andover Village, they were located on Chestnut Street for 25 years. "Colpitts Travel has been in Andover for over 50 years, and I am only the third owner," she said.

Knowing her clients is an important part of her business. Colpitts is a full-service agency, and she plans a client's vacation from the moment they arrive at the airport until they return home. "I offer everything from adventures in Thailand and Cambodia to a simple trip to Cape Cod," she said.

Miatkowski has a staff of 5 agents who mostly work out of their homes, but can meet with clients at the office. All of them can offer the benefit of their personal experiences. “We travel a lot,” she said.

She explained that knowing where to eat, sleep, and shop makes a huge difference in planning a trip. She emphasized that they work with every budget and do not charge extra for the personal service. 

Addressing the popularity of online travel agencies, Miatkowski warned of the pitfalls, and said that many people have been scammed. "That never happens to us because we have been dealing with the same people for 10-15 years."

Miatkowski said that her business is 90% from Andover. In recent years, she has seen an increase of Baby Boomers who want more active and exotic vacations, which include hiking, kayaking, rafting and zip lining.

She also pointed out that destination weddings have become more popular, and the agency works with younger clients in planning their honeymoons.

While Europe is the top summer destination, she said the Caribbean has the best beaches to get away from the cold Winter.

But not all islands are the same, and Miatkowski pointed out that her personal knowledge and experience makes it easier to assist clients in planning their vacations. "Some islands involve a lot of walking, and I wouldn't recommend it to a client who has difficulty with walking," she explained.

Miatkowski invites people to come in and meet with her. The hours are Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, and weekends and weeknights are by appointment only. The phone number is 978-475-8035 or check out the website.

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