20 Feet of Memories. 5 Provinces. 1,800 Kilometres.
This week, my daughter, Ceili, and I drove a 20-foot U-Haul from my brother’s house in Corner Brook to Ottawa, packed with treasures from my late mother’s home — pieces she would have loved knowing her granddaughters will now enjoy.
It was an epic journey: 
🚛 My confirmed 10’ truck in Corner Brook somehow became a 20’ truck in Stephenville — 45 minutes away. When I called U-Haul, their “solution” was to send me five hours to Gander, two days later… which would’ve meant missing my ferry booking altogether. And when I pressed for help, the reservations agent didn’t apologize or even acknowledge the stress — instead, I was told I “wasn’t being constructive” and basically, “take it or leave it.” Something I would neversay to a client.
😤 It felt like a scene from Seinfeld: “You know how to take the reservation… you just don’t know how to hold the reservation.”
I even called Marine Atlantic ahead of time to explain that U-Haul had messed up my reservation, but when I arrived at the Port aux Basques terminal, the gate agent gave me a hard time about not changing it officially. Lots of attitude about whether the 20-footer could fit, before she finally just charged me the extra fee and made it work.
🏨 Add in the comedy of trying to wedge a 20-footer into a rain-soaked Antigonish hotel parking lot late at night…
🛣️ …plus a marathon 14-hour day through five provinces, dodging “no truck lanes,” Montreal construction, and the world’s most stubborn GPS…
By midnight, we finally pulled into Ottawa — exhausted, caffeinated, and grateful. Mom’s treasures are home. Ceili and I will never forget it.
The U-Haul Problem
What stuck with me most wasn’t the truck itself, but the lack of follow-through and care. A reservation that wasn’t honored. No apology. No empathy. Just attitude and a shrug of “take it or leave it.”
Why This Matters for Travel
This is exactly why I’m so careful when planning trips for my clients. A recent survey I received simply said: “11 people, Europe, history and food.” That’s a wonderful dream — but without knowing if it’s a river cruise, land tour, or ocean voyage, or who the 11 travelers are (all adults? kids and grandparents?), it’s impossible to create the seamless, joy-filled trip that family deserves.
Because when you’re investing in once-in-a-lifetime travel, the details matter. Not just the “reservation,” but how it all fits together:
✅ The right ship, itinerary, or tour.
✅ The right room configurations and pace of travel.
✅ The right timing (yes, even Easter dates or school calendars).
✅ The right extras — like private guides, pre/post stays, and those special touches that turn a trip into a memory.
My Promise
When you work with me, you won’t get a “take it or leave it” approach. You’ll get thoughtful discovery, advocacy, and the peace of mind that I’ll not only take the reservation… I’ll hold it, track it, and make sure it becomes everything you dreamed.
Because travel, like life, is about the memories — not the mishaps.
📩 Ready to start planning your next seamless (and stress-free) journey?
👉 Complete My Pre-Consultation Survey https://form.jotform.com/52005967692260
Here’s to more laughter-filled adventures, and fewer white-knuckle ones.
— Sheila #AskSheila sheila@lushlife.ca