Why We Serve

Our why

Make Travel Extraordinary

At SerVacations, we recognize that people are at different places in their journey of faith. It is because of our founders’ Christian faith, believing in the lordship of Jesus Christ that we started SerVacations. Jesus said He did not come to be served, but to serve others. We aspire to that and seek to think of our guests' and employees’ needs first. We want to make a positive impact on the places that we visit and volunteer. We believe that vacation is not just a mental and physical escape, but that it can be utilized as a time to draw closer to our Creator, family, and those in need. It’s our hope that everyone experiencing our vacations, retreats, and single-day excursions is drawn closer to the Lord in their own way through that journey. We believe that God can take something ordinary like travel and make it extraordinary!

OUR Story

We look forward to serving you!

Fred & Marie Carlson are passionate about service and travel. Prior to starting SerVacations, they were often looking for ways to incorporate volunteering into their family vacation plans and found it challenging. They could take a mission trip and leave the kids at home. Or they could stay at home with the kids and volunteer during their time off, sacrificing the valuable vacation that they wanted to use to explore new places with the kids.

They found it quite challenging to research and schedule volunteer opportunities while also planning an incredible vacation, and no domestic tour operating companies offered a combination of both in safe, educational, and fun places. 

God gave Fred a vision for community-based trips where Volunteering and Vacation Unite!

Marie is a Certified Activities Professional and has over 12 years of experience as an Activities Director in upscale senior living, leading tours and excursions for independent living guests throughout the Tampa Bay area and beyond. She has a passion for building relationships with activities and attractions vendors and exceeding her guests’ customer experience expectations. Prior to that, she was a retail store manager and a youth minister, leading Christian education and youth activities, youth tours, vacation bible school, and mission trips.

Fred "got out" of Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Civil Engineering and an MBA in Real Estate & Finance, has served on the Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board of Trustees, and is a past president of the Georgia Tech Suncoast Alumni Network. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army's Tampa Area Command and Georgia Tech's Civil Engineering Advisory Board. Fred and Marie are active in their church and only by the rescuing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, hope to let their light shine before others, and glorify their Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16)

Why choose us?

One of the best ways to build memories and personal connections is by serving alongside family and new friends. SerVacation tour experiences ensure that you have the time for relaxation and rejuvenation, but you'll also make a difference. Ultimately, you’re able to return back to your normal lifestyle with greater purpose, excited to share stories about your experience–both your times of leisure and your service times – and even share a stronger connection with your family, friends, or co-travelers.

Outstanding Sightseeing

Our tours visit all of the major attractions and even a few hidden gems — all with professional guides who will make you feel connected with the community that you are visiting.

You can be...

Our tours visit all of the major attractions and even a few hidden gems — all with professional guides who will make you feel connected with the community that you are visiting.

You can be assured that unless otherwise noted, all of the tours and attractions we visit are family-friendly. Most of our tours are designed as curriculum-based travel to supplement kids' experiences in the classroom or homeschool and enthrall adults of all ages as well.

Authentic Cuisine

Our single-day trips typically include an authentic lunch featuring tastes of the culture of the neighborhood that you are exploring that day.

Multi-day trips include breakfast, and select ...

Our single-day trips typically include an authentic lunch featuring tastes of the culture of the neighborhood that you are exploring that day.

Multi-day trips include breakfast, and select lunches and dinners, with optional pay-as-you-go dinners so that guests can choose to socialize with their new friends and fellow guests or go explore on their own.

Volunteering

We offer opportunities for travelers to give back to the communities they visit through service-based projects. These projects can be customized to the interests and skills of participants, and the...

We offer opportunities for travelers to give back to the communities they visit through service-based projects. These projects can be customized to the interests and skills of participants, and they are a great way to learn about new cultures while making a positive impact. All participants are sure to leave feeling great about their contribution. 

Single-day SerVacations often include 2-3 hours of volunteering while multi-day tours have similar blocks scattered throughout the itinerary.

Homeschool Servacations

Check out our tours perfect for Homeschool Groups

Most of our trips are specially designed or can be customized for curriculum-based travel perfect for homeschool family groups.

Travel with other families of like-mind, share best practices and new ideas, and socialize with new friends!

Group leaders, check out our Homeschool Group Tour Page and get some new events on the calendar!

Frequently asked questions

Most frequent questions and answers

A SerVacation™ tour experience is a single or multi-day tour that includes volunteer service opportunities at local charities in the morning, then an authentic lunch featuring tastes of the culture of the neighborhood that you are exploring that day, followed by visits to major attractions in that area and even a few hidden gems — all with professional guides who will make you feel connected with the neighborhood that you are visiting.

On our multi-day itineraries, you will stay at a full-service hotel with amenities suited for families. Transportation by a luxury coach is provided. All lunches and some dinners are included. Other dinners with the group are optional and pay-as-you-go.

We encourage you to get to know your fellow guests as SerVacations travelers enjoy a lot in common!

• Compassionate People who want to be a light to the world.
• People who enjoy getting to know new people and want to be treated by their hosts like family.
• Solo Travelers, Couples, and Families with all ages of children, early childhood, pre-teen, and teenagers.
• People who enjoy flexibility, but want to have their trip planned out for them so that they don't have to worry about the details unless they desire.
• Those who find service to others and vacation to be a way to recharge, where purpose in their lives can be revealed.
• Student and church groups, looking to serve while incorporating high-quality speakers and teachers on topics like marriage, parenting, youth leadership, etc.
• People who prioritize relationships with their Creator, and family, and serve others first.
• Those who are excited about connecting with the people, history, and culture in a given city and want to leave feeling like an honorary local who knows the heart of the city.

All kinds of groups enjoy SerVacations, here are just a few that our trips are perfect for:

Homeschool Family Groups
55+ Community Travel Groups
Faith-Based Groups – Care groups, Youth groups, Seniors
Singles Groups
Alumni Associations
Marriage Retreats
Family Reunions
Missions Pastors/Wives Conference
Corporate Retreat/Meeting
Corporate Alumni Travel

Absolutely. All of our tour packages and itineraries can be tweaked to some extent to include other destinations, specialty tours, and volunteer experiences that suit your group. You tell us about your group and your goals, and we can help brainstorm the perfect ideas to make it a one-of-a-kind trip that your group members will not soon forget!

Multi-day:
Deluxe transportation is always included on our multi-day tours.

SIngle-day:
Usually guests meet at one of a few pickup spots, or all meet at a particular attraction featured in the itinerary and then transportation if necessary is provided from there.

Our goal is to give you the day off from driving and leave all the logistics up to us so that your group can relax and enjoy your trip to the fullest.

If you see a particular tour itinerary that is of interest to you, please fill out a tour inquiry form on that tour description page and we will contact you shortly.

Can’t wait to discuss, or want to customize a tour, feel free to call our Chief Service Officer, Fred Carlson at 678-358-5567 or email him at fred.carlson@servacations.com!

Plan Your Next SerVacation Today.

Unwind from the daily grind of life and spend quality time connecting with your loved ones, fellow travelers, and with your faith through our volunteer vacation experiences.
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