I’m born and raised in Texas and didn’t travel much until I got married other than in the United States and Mexico. Since then, I’ve traveled to 5 of the 7 continents and about 42 countries. I’m not as focused on the number of countries and places visited as I am about experiencing the places traveled in a meaningful way.
In my previous career, for more than 25 years, I owned and operated a gourmet food company and shared my passion of cooking with those who loved great food. My experience working with celebrity chefs and executives prepared me for my career in the travel industry. To deliver a great product again and again comes from the tiniest of details which is one of my strengths, whether it’s in a perfectly executed gourmet meal or the trip of a lifetime. In 2015, I hung up my chef coat, sold my company, and made the decision to feed my soul through travel in search of great food, wine, culture, and hidden gems throughout the world.
One of the best parts of my work is traveling to some of the most beautiful places in the world. I spend a couple of months each year researching beautiful destinations I think clients will want to travel to; from up-and-coming destinations, to hidden gems, to iconic cities. For more than a decade, I’ve been searching for the best places to send my clients, so they can have the trip of a lifetime.
As exciting and wonderful as travel is, the components that go into a perfectly planned trip can be quite stressful. To deliver the 5-star experience you’ve dreamt about, you need someone who will spend the time to get to know you and your travel style, then map out the details. My affiliation with Departure Lounge allows me to form meaningful relationships with some of the world’s best hoteliers, cruise operators, and tour providers, ensuring that clients have the best experiences possible.
Most people want to experience the culture not just the physical space of a destination. They want to feel a level of enthusiasm and passion for the city from the moment they arrive by being welcomed and embraced. It takes more than nice hotels and a few unique experiences to deliver a world class trip. It starts with the basic infrastructure of trip building from the time you exit the aircraft with a greeter who quickly whisks you through Customs and hand delivers you to your friendly English-speaking driver who promptly drops you off at your hotel. When you reach the hotel, the staff is eagerly waiting to welcome you as their VIP guest to their city and hotel. In your room, our preferred partners will have a welcome amenity waiting for you and other nice surprises. When it comes to tours, your guide will have pre-purchased the entry tickets and has the credentials to bypass the lines while others are wasting valuable vacation time standing in long lines. These may be small items, but they are basic hospitality expectations travelers in the know have come to expect.
My clients don’t just mark a city off their bucket list. They can say they had an authentic experience; from swimming in the Mediterranean, making focaccia bread and basil pesto with a local chef, to driving a supercar or vintage vehicle along the French Riviera, creating a one-of-a-kind fragrance with a master perfumer, via ferrata in the Dolomites, to sharing tea with a Berber family in the Atlas Mountains. How about a one-on-one opportunity to meet the King’s personal guard with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace? Another similar tour is to walk with the Master of the Keys and literally unlock the doors to the Sistine Chapel and turn on the lights before anyone else enters the building.
As someone who loves planning travel almost as much as traveling, I’m ready to assist you with your next amazing travel adventure wherever that may be!
This is hard to pinpoint but it is probably anywhere in Italy. For the past 12 years, I’ve been going to Italy once or twice a year. I would say it is more about the memories of the amazing experiences and the people I traveled with have a lot to do with what makes traveling for me so special. Sipping prosecco and watching the regatta with a client who traveled with me to Portovenere and seeing the joy in her face. This was her first time in Italy or in Europe for that matter, and she could barely contain herself. When I’m lucky enough to be escorting small groups, I love watching clients take in the beauty of travel to new places. Sicily, with Taormina and Mount Etna are new favorites of mine for the incredible food and wine, spectacular sunsets, and fabulous hotel experiences. The natural beauty of northern Italy is stunning. I’m surprised that more people don’t visit this area, the lakes, mountains, flowers, quaint villages, and again food and wine should be on everyone’s short list of places to see.
In the fall of 2023, I returned to Morocco. I have to say it has changed since I was there about 30 years ago. I absolutely love the vibrant yet soothing neutral colors of the natural landscapes, especially in the Sahara Desert. The sand is burnt orange against the royal blue sky during the day and the sunsets go from vermilion to salmon to plum. Staying at a luxurious desert camp was one of the highlights with only five luxury tents in the middle of the Sahara and only the dunes and camels for miles. The service was impeccable and as good or better than you get at a 5-star resort. We visited a few Nomad families in the desert which was a rewarding experience. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces when we arrived with food and necessities. One young girl, about 10 years old was able to see herself in a selfie for the first time. Her younger brother couldn’t eat his yogurt fast enough. Since they don’t have refrigeration, it is a true luxury for them to receive fresh fruits, yogurt, bottled water and other basic food items we take for granted.
Oman in the Middle East was another new experience when I visited in the spring of 2023. Words simply can’t describe this country. From the moment I arrived at the airport it didn’t disappoint. It is the cleanest city I’ve seen, no graffiti, no litter, not even the butt of a cigarette the entire time I was there. The landscapes are stunning, and the views are gorgeous. The food is amazing, and the people are truly genuine. My favorite location was in the mountains at the Alila Jabal Akhdar that is set 2000 meters above sea level, the hotel is perfectly perched on the edge of a ravine with views as commanding as the Grand Canyon. For anyone who appreciates nature and wellness, this is the place to go. The beaches were peaceful and beautiful with the occasional camel roaming along the beach. Glamping in the desert was another highlight. The sand felt like baby powder, and it was as if we had our own private desert. Oman would be perfect for one of my small group trips. Who’s ready?
In the spring of 2024, I had the opportunity to visit Slovenia with other advisors at Departure Lounge. This is a tiny, yet beautiful country between Italy, Austria, and Croatia. You can visit the alps, beaches, and capital city all in the same day. The wines were exceptional and the food was incredible. This is also an area famous for outdoor adventure. Think of Slovenia as a tiny Switzerland and half the price of Switzerland. From drinking sparkling wine while canoeing down the river which separates Slovenia from Croatia, to hiking or cycling in the alps, and canyoning in one of the 3,000 caves, or simply visiting some of the fabulous wine makers, there is plenty to appreciate in Slovenia.