I would like to introduce myself; I am Susan Phillips, the manager of over 40 New Braunfels Getaways, luxurious fully furnished vacation homes and condos. A1 Vacation New Braunfels, A1 Vacation Gruene and the Gruene Texas Lodging Association books and manages area vacation rentals on the Gaudalupe and Comal Rivers.

We feature luxurious New Braunfels getaways at the Village at Gruene Condos in Historic Gruene, on the Comal River, Lakes Dunlap, McQueeney, Placid, on River Road, Downtown New Braunfels near Schlitterbahn and Canyon Lake by the Horseshoe Tubing area. A1 Vacation New Braunfels welcomes family gatherings, Winter Texans, Corporate & Interim Housing, family retreats, special events such as large or small weddings, receptions and corporate retreats. Our goal is to have excellent guest relations and we offer a free referral service should we be booked. A1 Vacation New Braunfels is a member of the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, Gruene Texas Lodging Association and the New Braunfels Bed & Breakfast Association.

Susan is the Chair of the Small Business Person of the Year committee for the GNBCC. She very involved in the community and is well known and respected. She loves her job!

Susan's extensive background in property management began in the late 1970s in Dallas, Texas when she worked as a leasing agent for several large apartment complexes. Her Manager and mentor, gave her a dozen pink roses her first week because Susan leased 18 units in one day! After moving to New Braunfels in 1985, Susan continued working for local area apartment complexes including several in San Antonio. Susan was hired to work as a leasing consultant to help increase occupancy for troubled complexes. Susan was able to break her own record of 16 units per day and received a prestigious sales award from the property management company.

The success of A1 Vacation New Braunfels is due to God's answer to an earnest prayer and is greatly appreciated. It is a lovely coming together of Susan's life history and she is thrilled to do what she loves best. The properties have grown from one in 2004 to 40+ homes and condos by the beginning of 2009. Each vacation home is unique and can sleep 2 to up to 45+ guests. Visit the rest of our A1VacationNB.com site to see the lovely photos and visual tours to find the perfect vacation destination for your group.

About The Owner

Born to missionary parents in the Belgian Congo, Susan experienced a thrilling childhood. The beauty of Central Africa was often marred by violent bloody battles as rebel factions vied to overturn the government. Susan and her family were held hostage, evacuated, lost all their possessions, and the rebels even shot their dog! Through all of this strife, the Power of God and His love were abundant as He repeatedly lifted the family out of danger to safety. The Protestant University of Congo, founded with the help of Susan's father, is still in operation today due to his ongoing commitment. A new medical school has recently opened which will greatly increase medical care and help battle the AIDS epidemic. Susan's sisters have begun Hand Up Congo which is helping Congolese women begin businesses by giving them sewing machines etc. They have a pink canoe to go up and down the Congo River to sell their wares.

The family eventually settled in the Dallas area in 1971 where Susan married Dan Phillips and then moved to New Braunfels in 1985. Dan is the owner of Mission Investigations and is the top private investigator in Texas specializing in insurance fraud. Daniel Jr. (Young Studmuffin), age 25, is a recent graduate of the University of North Texas with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and is working inside sales at the Texas Rangers baseball team. If you need tickets, ask for Daniel!!! Betsy, age 20, is a sophmore and is currently enrolled in Texas State University. She is an actress who has done TV commercials, voice over work, print ads and starred as Sandy in Grease which broke New Braunfels Theatre records. They attend the contemporary service at the historic First Protestant Church downtown.

Susan's love of running and volunteering led to her directing over 25 road races including the very first Race for the Cure in San Antonio. Susan created the Jingle Bell Run and directed the Wurst Five Mile Run for years. She was the first in New Braunfels to tie running events to non-profits thereby raising funds for Family Outreach, Hospice, the Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, United Way and more. Susan can still run a 45 minute 5 miler and a 29 minute 5-K. Her 20 year old finally beat her at the 2008 Wurst Five Mile Run by half a minute and Susan was never prouder! Susan placed 5th and Betsy placed 4th in their age group out of 1200 runners!

Betsy and Susan directed the first annual 'Bark in Park' October 28, 2006 which raised over $6000 for the Humane Society's Animal Shelter. Each year the event doubles in attendance and the Shelter now has a new home!!

Susan served as Founder and Board member for seven years of the New Braunfels Women's Chamber of Commerce and as Program Chair for the San Antonio Women's Chamber of Commerce. She also directed two Women in Communications Headliner Proliner Banquets honoring the media in San Antonio. Susan was named Business Person of the Year by the New Braunfels Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 1998 and Business Person of the Year by the New Braunfels Women's Chamber in 2000 and 2001. Together with Sally Singley, Susan founded Network Partners, a Christian Networking Group, which had 75 members during its two year span. It was disbanded after A1 Vacation New Braunfels took off and there was no time to organize and plan for Network Partners.

Susan and all the staff at A1 Vacation New Braunfels work tirelessly to serve our owners and our guests. It is indeed very much a GOD thing!!!