Leisure Travel Services offers discounted vacations

Jennifer Mai works at her computer, looks for ticket deals at the Leisure Travel Services registration at the Roberto Loeza Soldier Activity Center Sept. 12. Mai, ticket seller, can get tickets to concerts, sporting events and amusement parks at discounted prices. Photo by Sgt. Mark A. Kauffman, 24th Press Camp Headquarters.

Sgt. Mark A. Kauffman,
24th Press Camp Headquarters:

Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Leisure Travel Services, formerly known as the Information Ticketing Registration, moved from 1743 Victory Ave. to 20732 Constitution at East Fort Bliss last month.

Although the location has changed, the same quality vacation arrangements that Soldiers and retirees have come to know can still be obtained by the professional staff at the LTS.

Shawnna Barrientos started working for MWR as a lifeguard at the Replica Aquatic Center when she turned 16 and has worked her way up to assistant manager at Leisure Travel Services. Barrientos has worked at LTS for more than 10 years. She said she enjoys sitting down with Soldiers, helping them plan their perfect getaway.

“I love providing good customer service and working with Soldiers on a one-to-one basis,” said Barrientos. “I like finding good vacation packages for them.”

Barrientos can arrange everything for a dream vacation, including airfare, hotels, rental cars and event tickets throughout the world. She also specializes in booking discounted cruises for individuals and families.

The LTS office has numerous amusement parks tickets, including those in the states of California, Florida and Texas. If you want to stay local and have a day of fun, the office carries tickets to local amusements parks such as Wet-n-Wild, Western Playland and Adventure Zone. Ticketmaster events and concerts can also be purchased through the LTS office.

Barrientos said Disneyland and Disneyworld have been popular recently because they are offering discounts for military servicemembers and retirees.

As of Oct. 1, servicemembers can purchase a three-day hopper ticket to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., for $125 and a four-day hopper to Disneyworld in Orlando, Fla., for $156. Disneyworld’s four-day package is regularly $500. A hopper ticket allows patrons to visit different parks on the same day. They can re-enter the park at no extra charge, according to Barrientos.

June and July are typically the busiest time for the LTS office, but they keep busy with other responsibilities, including maintaining the post’s privately owned vehicle lot and providing unit funds.

With the summer winding down and children back in school, the LTS office still works hard to provide the quality customer service that Soldiers deserve.

The Leisure Travel Services office is open six days a week to better serve this military community. Monday through Friday, the office is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The office remains open on all training holidays but is closed on federal holidays.

To learn more, call Shawnna Barrientos at 744-5105.