Testimonials & Client Photos


Italian Family Getaway - Florence, Tuscany, and Milan

Deena - What a wonderful trip and thank you for all your preparation and due diligence.  Everything was spot on and perfect. Thank you for all your assistance.  Talk with you again the next time.

Roger and Jenn, Feb. 2024


Paris Girls’ Getaway

Dear Deena, Good Morning! I have wonderful feedback about our trip for you. I think we walked the entire central part of the city from Saint Chapelle clear across to the Arc De Triomphe, over to the Eiffel Tower and everything in between. We had fun shopping along the Champs Elysee and at the vendors along the Seine. We brought home so many fun gifts/souvenirs and I narrowed our pictures down to 400 photos and 20 videos! I've included a few pics below. We enjoyed the museums. The girls had a lesson in school on the Mona Lisa when they got back so it was fun for them to be able to say they have seen it! The Eiffel Tower was a bit scary on the way up in the elevator so we took the stairs down. I'm not sure that it was much better that way though!

Having timed entry tickets to everything made things much easier as far as wait times. That also helped in our planning of the day. We found that there was plenty of time to fit everything in. With early starts and so much walking, having two places to see each day was plenty. I would not change a single thing about our trip! Thank you so much for everything! Having the airport concierge was amazing. He was able to guide us through the airport and gave us some great tips for the trip. The Car Tour was so much fun, and I'm so glad we did it the first night despite feeling some travel fatigue. Our driver was so good and took us to all the amazing sights. He too gave us some great tips for our time there in Paris. What a fun way to see the city at night without all the walking and feeling perfectly safe.

The crepe class was one of our favorite activities! Chef was engaging and made the entire night fun. We have already tried to replicate them at home! Versailles. Wow, I wish I had brought a notebook to take notes on this tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable! What a gorgeous property. It was fun to get the macaroons and cards while we were there as a surprise! Thank you!!! The hotel was incredible! They had your photos framed all around the room for us and some welcome amenities that were yummy. The concierge was excited to take us up to the room and show us all they had done. The room was gorgeous, and the location was perfect. The entire trip was amazing and memories were made to last forever. Thank you so much for all of your hard work to make it all happen. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!

Beth, Paris Adventures, Dec. 2023


Hawaii Honeymoon Adventures

Hi Deena. Thank you so much for everything. We had such a wonderful trip! Everything you set up for us/recommended was a must-see, so we really appreciated the guidance. We have no complaints, it was truly a perfect trip.

We’re happy to share some pictures! Here’s a couple of our favorites. Best,

Dan and Sami, New York City - Dec. 2023


Swiss and Italian Adventures

Guten Tag, Deena! The flight was nice (upgraded to first class to be fresh for Lucerne). My first time with that, and now I fully get it. Fernando was great, greeting me and filling me in on the ride. The hotel is perfection. Age and scale exactly what I didn’t know to ask for. Their Christmas market was charming. I attended mass in the nearby cathedral and even explored the town and bridges on my own. All that merely set the stage for being shown to my room early afternoon. Utterly gorgeous accommodations and views. The Alps have immediately become my travel companion for these special days. The welcome note, delicious bites, and fine bottle all so kind of you. Thank you, thank you! And bravo! Until next time soon. Auf Wiedersehen!

In Florence and exploring! Hotel quite lovely. Off to Pizza and Gelato Class! Stay tuned. All was wonderful. Specifics to follow in upcoming weeks. Thank you. My best, Deena!

Tom, Dec. 2023


Swiss Adventures - Mountains and Cities

Deena did an amazing job planning our week stay in Switzerland. Her selection of hotels was superb and recommendations for restaurants were perfect! Deena provided wonderful information concerning activities, travel tips and fun facts as well! We were greeted at each hotel with a special gift from Global Getaways and a personal note from Deena. She was engaged with us and available for us before, during and after our travels. Deena really went all out and we experienced what a difference she made! Such a memorable time!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Interlachen, Lucerne & Zurich. The Hotel in Interlaken was spectacular! We visited lovely museums, hiked, and saw the most glorious mountain views! The Jungfrau range is gorgeous  In Lucerne we took the beautiful boat ride, the Cogwheel train up the mountainside and again saw spectacular scenery! Beauty around every corner! In Zurich we stayed at a lovely hotel on the river!! Such a charming city with beautiful views!

We are so grateful for the expertise and professionalism that Deena offered throughout our planning and the execution of our journey!

Brian and Kathy, Chicago - Nov, 2023


Italy Honeymoon with Rome, Sorrento, Praiano, and Capri

Hi Deena, We had such an amazing time on our honeymoon and really enjoyed all of the hotels, activities, and of course the food! It was a pleasure working with you. We loved all of the hotels you chose for us. The properties were beautiful and the service was outstanding. Our hotel in Praiano was definitely our favorite overall. We enjoyed many beautiful sunset views from the balcony and enjoyed staying in the town of Praiano. In Sorrento, we loved the beach club and had some delicious meals at the hotel. We loved the room and overall vibe of our hotel in Capri and had a lovely massage at the spa.

The cheese making tour in Sorrento was really cool and we loved the tasting! The location was beautiful and it was interesting to learn about the history there. The Cooking Class in Positano was one of our favorite experiences of the trip! Chef Raffaelle was a great teacher and everything we made was delicious. It was nice that we also received a full recipe book after so we can make these dishes at home. Our driver for the Amalfi Coast day was very informative and gave us a lot of great suggestions for each town we visited. He also took us to a delicious restaurant in Conca dei Marini for lunch (the lemon ravioli was amazing!). We wish we could have spent more time in Ravello as we really loved exploring the shops and streets there and it was less crowded than some of the other towns. All of the transfers ran smoothly and as planned. Every driver was on time and the cars were comfortable. Last but not least, some pictures! We of course have 100x as many but here are a few of our favorites. It was an incredible honeymoon! Tough to see it end but will be good to be back home. Thanks again for everything! It will definitely be a trip we'll never forget. Best,

Mike and Jackie, New York City, Oct. 2023


Anniversary Adventures with Lake Como, Tuscany, & the Amalfi Coast, Italy

Dear Deena, first of all, we could not have done this without you! You saw to everything from the beginning to the end! We were recalling how we were so grateful for your services because we would’ve been clueless and lost…literally. Thank you for all the little details! The Prosecco and your treats and notes were so sweet. We cherished them. To start, every driver you set for us from cars to boats was top notch, professional, gracious and warm, filled with knowledge and eager to assist. Our first stop Milan, the first thing we did was find an espresso and we were not disappointed. When we arrived to Como, the hotel was lovely, the hospitality was warm and the room nice. The breakfast was beautiful. The city was pretty and the water and mountains were gorgeous! Being on the lake was amazing with breathtaking views that we are very grateful to have experienced. Being on the water in the Venetian boat was magical. We loved it and our friends so enjoyed the tour on Lake Como with us.

The walking food tour in Florence was great because our tour guide was incredible. Her passion and love for her city was contagious. We fell in love with Florence because of her and we truly wanted to adopt her and her family. We learned driving from Florence to Montalcino that even gas station espresso macchiatos were amazing! We love coffee in case you didn’t know. 😉 Montalcino was so charming. My goodness! We had so much fun with the truffle hunt. I even found a truffle the dogs missed! The truffle hunter offered me a treat for my find but I declined, haha. The farm was beautiful, the people were wonderful the food was wonderful and we bought all kinds of pantry items and their cookbook. I would do that again The Villa…be still my heart! It was beautiful and the hospitality was warm and inviting. And the soaking tub! It helped sooth us. ❤️ I felt like we were royalty in a Downton Abbey episode with all the busy people there to take care of our whims and wishes. We were truly spoiled.  The Wine Tour was exceptional and educational. We came back after sending many cases of wine back home. We loved Montepulciano and wanted to go back the next day but it rained so we stayed at the Villa, Miki, our driver, got us an invite to a dinner in Cortona called Wine Dine and Shine, so we stayed in Cortona, shopped, and then went to dinner. It was a beautiful and fun adventure.

When we arrived in Naples, it was a crazy mad frenzy. I would never want to drive there and had you not been so clear with all the details, we would not have been able to find our way even to our driver, Umberto.  Finding our hotel on Capri was an adventure but once we did we were in heaven! The balcony of our room overlooked the Faraglioni and it was a pleasure looking at it every morning. The hospitality at this hotel was above and beyond! The people were so gracious and helpful. Todd had a headache and asked the front desk if they had anything. They didn’t but sent someone to the pharmacy to get it! No hotel here would do that! I cannot rave enough about this hotel! I mean, the service was above and beyond! By the way, the views from the pool were magnificent! We loved it so much,Todd was trying to figure out how to blow off our next leg and stay but I said this trip has been nothing short of a crescendo with each destination, I want to see what was next! We said a very long goodbye to the hotel and Capri. I believe we will go back one day. Sorrento and the Amalfi coast: Sailing with Luca was a treat even though it started out a bit cold and rainy but Luca was a treasure. By the time we finished lunch at a little sea front restaurant called La Pearla in Narano having the best dish ever “zucchini pasta,” the sun began to shine. We sailed to the Amalfi coast for some beautiful scenery from the ocean, picture opportunities and some lazing under the sun on the bow of the boat while Todd took a dip in the beautiful blueness of the water that was just a bit too cold for me. 😉 Finally onto the finale of our journey. The City of Sorrento was very hustle bustle. We found this restaurant called ‘O Canonico. We enjoyed it so much we went back the next night! I would definitely recommend that to anyone looking for amazing food and wine. Ask for Marco and tell him we sent them. Ask him to tell you about his wine!

Leo, our driver for the Amalfi coast was a true treasure and we loved just hanging out with him for the day. We really wanted to be a local for a day, so he chose for us a lovely place to dine for lunch. We requested Leo to take us to the airport because we just wanted to hang out with him for a little while longer. This was a trip of a lifetime and we have so many wonderful memories and pictures! We are grateful to have been able to work with you, Deena. You made this experience such a wonderful one that we will never forget! We found the people of Italy to be so warm and genuine. We really fell in love with them. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Deena!

Todd and Denise, 35th Anniversary, Kansas, Oct., 2023


Romantic Mountain & Wildlife Getaway

Hi Deena! Overall the trip was amazing. Different than what we usually do to unwind, we were actually tired some days but I’ll blame that on altitude and being pregnant 😆 The scenery was breathtaking, being by and learning about animals was surreal, the food was delicious (a carnivore’s dream), the locals were kind and down to earth and the ability for us to connect as a last “trip of 2” was just perfect. ❤️ Listing some feedback and favorites below.

The 4 Seasons was great. Everyone was super friendly and in constant communication if we needed anything. The spa treatments were so fun and a great way to relax between activities and days! The food there was delicious as well. Highly recommend the breakfast, sitting outside during sunset for drinks/s’mores and dinner in their restaurant was great.

We also went downtown a couple times. There was tons of touristy shopping, art stores and the famous “Million dollar Cowboy” bar. The West Villages aka where the Four Seasons was is definitely the better spot to stay if you are looking to ski. The scenery was beautiful, peaceful and so convenient by the ski and bike trails. We enjoyed just sitting out there having coffee in the morning soaking it all in. Apparently “summer season” was closing that weekend, so we made it perfectly in time to catch some last reservations at Piste (top of the mountain hotel) and the last night of the Jackson Hole rodeo!

Highlights

1. Stargazing: So cool! Being in the middle of the mountains. We had a perfectly clear night and could see the Milky Way. It was Magical! Highly recommend it. We even stayed an extra hour learning. Ryan, the guide, was so passionate and knowledgeable and everyone at the hotel knew him and gave rave reviews before we even went.

2. Sunset safari: So fun! It was like hunting for wild animals. We saw moose, elk, tons of bison, a bear hiding in the tree next to our car eating Huckleberries and some birds and antelope-looking animals. The guide was awesome, always trying to get us to the animals (but not too close)

3. Jackson Hole rodeo: We caught the last night of the season. Super fun and headed to Million Dollar Cowboy bar after where there was a live band.

4. Tram rides: This actually went higher than expected, super smooth ride up and down and they opened a new “sky walk” where you could go out on the edge and take some pictures with a better 360 view.

5. Spa and relaxing: The pool was great to lounge at after the spa. The scenery was beautiful just to soak in and the air and water was so pure it was peaceful and refreshing!!

Absolutely loved the trip Deena! You nailed it again, helping us just reconnect with each other, nature/wildlife and a place I could see us going back to visit! THANK YOU x100 for all of your hard work and fast thinking to help us transition between Hawaii to Jackson Hole with such a short timeline - while making this trip seamless like it had been planned forever. We appreciate you being such an amazing professional and the best at what you do!!! Once we get settled with the new baby and can book another trip with you we will! (I wish it could be soon - ha!) 😉 PS - And thank you again for the sweet candles, they all smell so good! I can’t even pick a favorite!!

Brad & Crystal, Chicago, Oct. 2023


Paris Adventures with the Girls

Deena, Thank you so much!! Our trip has been amazing and everything you have coordinated has gone seamlessly. Thank you so much for all of your help putting it all together. I appreciate it so much!

Beth, Florida, Oct. 2023


Italy Family Vacation with Rome and Florence

We took our first trip to Italy in 2023. This was the first time for any of us to go to Europe, so we knew we were out of our element and needed professional guidance on how to plan our vacation. Deena came highly recommended as a travel agent, so I contacted her about planning our trip for us.

From day one of her taking us on as a client we knew we made the right choice. She first asked us about our passions and interests, what we wanted to do and see. She listened intently when we told her our priorities – what was important to us and what was not so important. She never once tried to steer us from what we wanted to experience, she only made those things we wanted to experience that much more incredible.

She planned our vacation as if she were planning a vacation for her own family. Many times during our trip each one of us would make comments like, “Deena just ‘crushed it’,” and “I am so glad we hired Deena – can you imagine if we didn’t?!” You don’t know what you don’t know – and that couldn’t have been more true for us than our me in Italy; however, Deena knew and took her expertise and made our trip epic.

So grateful for her and Global Getaways! We won’t be planning future trips without her!

Dave & Megan, Chicago - September, 2023


Romantic Paris Getaway

Things are fantastic here, Deena. I’m beyond impressed - truly blessed. Not sure how you’ve managed to pull off some of the things you have. Les Jules Verne. The Louvre Guide. Incredible! Even our local guide was blown away that you got Les Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower Restaurant Reservations. I’m telling people that I’m not going to book any other travel anywhere with anyone but you. LOL. And others shouldn’t either. So - thank you. I would love to set up a call to walk through our trip with you. It was spectacular!

Robert, Aug. 2023


Ireland Adventures

Good Morning, Deena! We certainly had an absolutely perfect trip in Ireland!!! My son typed up four pages of memories and funny moments that will help us remember all the aspects of the trip for years to come.  Each hotel was wonderful, with its own charm.  Ireland…GREEN, relaxed, low crowds, natural wonders, ancient history, friendly people, tiny roads, hardly any traffic lights or traffic..great time of year to go. Our driver said we had the best week of weather all year! 

In Dublin, the hotel was an absolutely perfect spot for when you arrive! The lobby! Wilde for breakfast!  Balfes for a quick dinner downstairs (had the best Irish waitress!).  We loved Ann, our guide!  We loved our 18 seater bus.  While it was large we all moved around a lot within it so it was super comfortable with good seating at the front of bus. We loved our driver, Tony. We could tell he had great knowledge and experience and we felt we could trust him. He made us laugh and laugh.  We had him join us for a few lunches and he really enhanced the visit. Great driver as well. All the hotels were very relaxed, never stuffy at all. Even the two castles! Staff were always friendly.  We always loved the Irish workers the most as it gave us a real feel for Ireland. Our rooms were great!!! Just beautiful. The Presidential Reagan Suite was fabulous and so fun to get!!!  

I said many times how glad I was that you pretty strongly suggested golfing at Ballybunion.  We LOVED that experience although the course kicked most of our butts! I highly recommend that Cashen Course.  Most holes have views of the beach and ocean and it was quintessential links golf! We stopped in at Lahinch on the way to Cliffs of Moher as well. We so enjoyed the walks/hikes out to some great viewing spots.  We absolutely loved Aran Islands.  Our driver was pretty adamant that we should reconsider due to threat of rain but kids wanted to press on….so, so glad we did as the weather held and the sights were blockbuster!  Have you seen Banshees of Inisherin?  All the sights!   We hiked a long while on Cliffs of Moher.  Loved that…and the cutest Tearoom Lunch in Ballyvaughn after that. I could go on and on!

Thank you, thank you, for a job so well done.  You are a dream to work with!!!! If you want to pick my brain more about details, feel free either by phone, email or in person. Also, thank you again for the sweetest Belleek mugs (I have already used them with fond memories) and the special treats in the hotels. So, so special. You do your work so very well, Deena, with such a wonderful personal touch and care. Watch out, I will recommend you to all I know!

Love, Wendy, Chicago, June 2023


Grand European Adventures

We recently returned from our trip-of-a-liftetime! Six weeks in Europe. Eight countries. Eleven cities. And every single place was magical and made MORE so because of the impeccable planning/coordinating/organizing done for us by Deena from Global Getaways! Our adventure began about 10 months ago when our “dream” to spend an extended time in Europe resulted in a phone call to Deena to start the process. This was followed by many emails back and forth over the next few months to crystalize our vision into an actual itinerary to maximize our vacation. Innumerable details were sorted and adjusted and intricately put in place. Deena has been our go-to travel wizard for all the BEST trips we’ve taken over the past 10 years. Her expertise and trusted, experienced partners make a difference that is invaluable.

To spend 6 weeks traveling in Europe, staying in 11 different hotels and needing LOTS of transfers by cars and train travel between countries, and setting up LOTS of tours and fun excursions…is NO SMALL task. And yet…Deena does all of this with her gentle, kind and patient ways. She never “put us off” or let us think we were “bothering” her with our small concerns or questions. And just to complicate matters, we added in our daughter for 4 cities and a sister and brother-in-law for 3!!

Deena set up the most unique, adorable boutique hotels for us. Each one had a charm of its own, with lovely staff, delicious breakfasts, and many amenities. Each was a sweet place to lay our heads at the end of the day.

Our private tour guides were excellent and really enhanced the tour days by adjusting to our personal preferences and abilities. The excursions/experiences that Deena set up for us were very nearly PERFECT…the weather (rain or overcast skies) was actually the only aspect that quantifies them as “very nearly” perfect!

These are some of the highlights: Stops at personal family ancestral addresses in The Netherlands, private canal boat ride, private tour of the Rijksmuseum, a day at Keukenhof Gardens to see the tulips, visit to the charming village of Giethoorn, a secret Paris tour in a Vintage Citroen Traction, a private tour of the Louvre, a Yacht dinner cruise on the Seine, the most INCREDIBLE MAGNIFICENT private tour of the Bernese Oberland Swiss countryside, a ride on the Gotthard Panoramic Express, private walking food tour in Lake Como, private Venetian boat tour of Lake Como with stops at Balbianello and Bellagio,  private cooking class at a chef’s home in the Lombardy region, another stupendous private excursion on gorgeous Lake Maggiore to visit the 3 Borromean Islands, a “beyond words” unique stop in Portofino with a private guided tour of the La Portofinese’s Eco-farm and a lunch picnic set up on the top of their mountain park, private tour of Cinque Terre towns, private walking tour of the David and the Academia in Florence,  private drive to San Gimignano and Sienna, private tours and guides in Munich, Vienna and Prague.

Saying THANK YOU is so insufficient as is our gratitude for Deena’s coordinating the magic!

Herm and Janet Schneider, Florida (VERY satisfied repeat clients), June 2023


East African Honeymoon Safari

Dear Deena, Good morning from Heathrow! Just awaiting our connection. We really could go on and on about the vacation but I'm going to try to sum it up in a few points.

1: THANK YOU!!! We had the BEST time...and everything went seamlessly. Thinking about the trip as a whole we can't help but be incredibly grateful for what you put together. It was perfect. Everything arranged and organized...and no headaches. I don't want to gloss over this part because it really was a dream come true. We had the best time. Thank you.

2: We enjoyed staying in multiple locations in multiple parks. Each camp and each park brought something different which was nice.

3: All of the lodging and parks were fantastic. All the camps had amazing service and good food but Finch was just on another level in terms of service and food! They really set the bar high

4: The guides are such a huge part of it. We had such amazing guides that truly made the experience special. We're huge animal lovers and love to explore and ask questions and they were really on the same page and helped us make the most of our time.

5: I know you probably see more animals in the busy/dry season...but we really hate crowds, so this was the best time for us. We were the only people in 2/4 camps and never shared a drive with anyone else....plus when we saw something special...there weren't 500 cars lined up to see it. It made the experience so much more intimate.

6: On day 5...rainy season be damned. We got rained out of 1 of 21 drives lol. That's it. We organized the drives around the weather and it didn't really mess with our plans. As far as seeing less animals...I'm not really sure we felt that way. We saw SO MUCH STUFF. We saw the big 5, tons of lions, tons of elephants, cheetah's and their cubs...and we feel totally fulfilled from a "seeing animals" perspective. Attached some pics. Thanks again! I'm sure you'll be hearing from us again at some point in the future.

Jordan & Jenna, Texas - May, 2023 - Kenya


Swiss Alps, Lake Como, and Cinque Terre

Hi Deena, I wanted to message you and thank you for planning the most magical trip ever.

Every location and activity was more special than the next. Truly it was a trip I will never forget. Thank you a million.

Caitlin, Florida - May 2023


Patagonia Adventures with Argentina and Chile

Deena, our trip to the Patagonia region was long anticipated, from before covid, and we had high expectations, but the trip you planned and we enjoyed far exceeded our expectations!  The guides and drivers took such good care of us and personalized each day to our specific needs.  I've never been so pampered. By the end of the trip I was so relaxed even though we moved around and had busy days because it was so worry-free.  

Even though we enjoyed every day, the main highlights were the walk with the penguins, our Camp and Torres del Paine.  Getting that close to penguins and walking right beside them was a dream come true.  And then God gave a special present of a double rainbow!  That whole day had a lot of moving parts but our guide and driver made it seem effortless and even included a hot lunch after our hike.

Our camp in Patagonia was like another world.  The resort itself was amazing, hanging on the side of the cliff above the lake with views of the Paine range.  Then add in the cool yurts in the trees, our jacuzzi where we ended the day learning the stars of the southern hemisphere and then there was the food.  Oh my, the quality and presentation of the meals was a perfect way to relax after hiking and exploring.  And that leads me to the best choice you made for us, private guide and driver for all our days there.  What a huge difference that made allowing us to enjoy our own pace and designing different hikes based on the weather and yet still seeing so much. Andre our guide and Pedro our driver were so attentive, kind and fun!  And the lunch spreads each day, wow!

I can't thank you enough for your thoughtful planning, your yummy welcomes in our rooms at each location and making this trip to the end of the world an incredible journey that we will always remember.  Can't wait to start planning the next journey with you!

Don and Dana, Arkansas, May 2023


French Polynesia Honeymoon with Sharks & Sting Rays

Deena, hi! On behalf of Chuy and me, let me first say we couldn’t have been happier with our Bora Bora trip and it’s all because of YOU! We are grateful and forever indebted to you! Bora Bora is absolutely stunning. We fell in love with the endless hues of magical blue waters and the people of Bora Bora! Our honeymoon was so special and we made so many memories that will be talked about for years to come. We made new friends, from sting rays to sharks to puffer fish, to locals and others from around the world. We haven’t traveled much since the start of the Pandemic, but this trip couldn’t have turned out more perfectly. From your organizational skills to meticulous planning, you truly are incredible and it’s been an honor and pleasure working with you. I’ve been to some great places in my lifetime (Spain, France, Belize) but Bora Bora is by far a true Paradise on Earth. It was magical, everything we hoped for and more! I know in my heart this will be my favorite trip no matter where else life decides to take us, and we know there are more marvelous places to visit.  We were up for almost every sunrise and enjoyed a few gorgeous sunsets. Let me tell about a big surprise the evening of our sunset cruise! An entire family of Spinner dolphins decided to put on a show for us during the cruise (they’ve been my favorite sea monsters since I was a child). I swam with Dolphins in the Bahamas, but honestly, this experience was not the same. To see them free in their natural habitat was incredible to witness! I can scratch that off my bucket list! 

We love to eat and Chicago has some of the best seafood and steak houses, but La Villa Mahana, my oh my, where do I even begin? This is by far our favorite and BEST culinary experience to date! We went out of our way to ask for the Chef, and were able to take some great photos together and express what true appreciation we had for his craft and passion for culinary excellence. Our Jet Ski guide, Jean, was the same tour guide we had for snorkeling. He was probably our favorite person we met in Bora Bora and we got attached to him. We requested him a third time for the sunset cruise but unfortunately had another guide. He was pretty cool too. Our entire itinerary was put together so well, and we really enjoyed our leisure time, too. By the way, we couldn’t have survived without all the details on your app, SO YOU TRIPLE ROCK FOR THAT ONE!!!

The resort - nothing short of wonderful. Their breakfast and different restaurants for dinner were phenomenal (with new foods/water in our tummies, we didn’t even get sick). The employees are compared to none, and we even made a new friend who’d like us back next year (lol) except his family offered their home (how loving and cool). I have to say that Bora Bora is Paradise, but the people are even more marvelous. To meet other people who remind you of all the great qualities most people lack today, is honestly jaw dropping. They are so genuine and caring, far more than just a job for them, it’s who they are. The resort has some great amenities. We met a few couples who spent half their time at two different resorts. I’m honestly glad you didn’t give us that option because I would have hated to unpack then pack and do it all over again. Some of these couples regretted not just staying at our resort because it was so much better. I also love that the resort is on its own island. On our last day, they were able to put us in a Transit Room from 12pm-3pm so that worked out perfect. You did GREAT!! Whenever we decide to go back, we’d definitely stay here again.  Every day was a true blessing and a new memory. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH, DEENA!!!! I could go on and on but I will let some of our photos do the talking! I threw in some wedding photos too. Thank you Deena and Global Getaways, for such a memorable honeymoon experience! We look forward to having you create another wonderful vacation for us in the future! - PS - We love our new coffee table book! Already thinking of South Africa. Gosh, you’re wonderful, thank you indefinitely!! 

Love, Sarah & Chuy, Chicago, IL - Bora Bora


Bora Bora Honeymoon

Deena, We cannot thank you enough for the detail-oriented, timely, helpful, and thoughtful work you put into giving us the best honeymoon vacation!!! Jack and I loved the resort so much and our bungalow was the perfect location! Bora Bora truly is a dream honeymoon location. All of our reservations, activities, and hotel room switch worked out splendidly and without a hitch! Our little airport delay was just a small blip that we immediately forgot about once we were there, and now it’s a funny story to tell. Jack and I absolutely want to go back one day, and for sure stay at the overwater bungalow again! We met a couple who honeymooned there 25 years ago and brought their kids back on this trip to do it all over again. We hope to do the same!

Thank you for being so kind and intentional to make sure we had everything we needed and were prepped. The folder and all the print outs were wonderful! Also, thank you so much for the amazing travel book and deliciously beautiful chocolates! Our first coffee table book for our new apartment We love it!

You’re the best travel agent! Thank you and I hope you and the family are doing well! All the best,

Jessie and Jack, Chicago, IL - Bora Bora


Italy Honeymoon with Sorrento, Capri, & Rome

Hi Deena. Thank you for checking in! I’ve done a great job at disconnecting from email, so just seeing this. Our time so far has been phenomenal! We can’t thank you enough for how much time, effort and detail you put into planning our honeymoon within 7 weeks notice! That’s no easy ask and you beyond delivered. We’ve never used a travel agent but with a hectic life at the time, no clue what we were doing or where we were going, you took our vision and brought it to reality. Every detail from the pre-read itineraries, small gifts you sent, the follow ups while we were there, the hand written thank you note, all meant so much to us. We know how invested you are in your clients’ experience and we appreciated that!

The team in Sorrento was amazing! Roberto was a fantastic tour guide; you can tell he loves his job and his hometown. Transportation to Capri was a breeze, and we arrived about 12pm. Our room was ready and they upgraded us! This hotel is beautiful. We LOVE it. Thank you for the champagne!!! So sweet of you. Here are a few pictures.

In Rome, Luca was our favorite tour guide! We had so much fun with him, he is down to earth and felt like a friend we were catching up with. I would highly recommend him for others!!! Thanks again.

Overall we had an amazing time and our trip would not have been that flawless and effortless without you. We are so grateful and appreciative. We’ll be back!

Danielle and John, Chicago, IL


Italy & Greece Honeymoon

Tuscany: Hi Deena. We are here and in love! Thank you so much for the wine!!! Our driver was friendly, easy to communicate with and gave us good directional help for navigating the area. We felt super welcomed and comfortable with him. Our villa was lovely and exactly what I wanted from Tuscany. The service was great, and we practically had the place to ourselves which was incredibly relaxing. The location could not have been more beautiful - I would love to return one day! The restaurant had spectacular views and the staff was super accommodating to me being gluten free.

Tuscan Countryside with Wine Tasting: We loved Paulo and would recommend him over and over again. He was a good conversationalist but recognized when we wanted to absorb the moment. He was knowledgeable about the area, a safe driver, and we really enjoyed our time with him. We loved each of the places we visited! We ended up going to Pienza first, and we loved the town and could have wandered for a couple hours!

Truffle Hunt with Lunch & Wine Tasting: This was probably one of our favorite experiences and we would recommend it to anyone traveling to the area. The truffle hunter was knowledgable, and while he only spoke Italian, Paulo translated for us and we all had a great time! We learned a lot about truffles and the dogs were so fun! The family farm/vineyard that we had lunch at afterwards was quaint perfection. The location and views were amazing, the food was delicious, and the wine was so good! We spent the rest of the day lounging around the hotel and enjoying their amenities.

Rome: This was a nice, classic hotel. It was a bit out of the way from the tourist locations, which was nice for crowds. Florence to Rome, 1st Class Train with private transfers - We loved the train and had a smooth trip. We had an issue finding our private driver when we arrived in Rome. Turns out they were displaying their company name rather than ours or Global Getaways, and we did not know what the company's name was. However, our Guardian Angel was quick to help and we were only in limbo for 20 minutes.

Private Early Entrance Tour - Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peters: This was an absolutely amazing morning. Davide was spectacular and we would recommend him 100x over! He took stock of what our interests were and catered the morning exactly to our preference. The morning went smoothly, and we loved each moment - we even got blessed by one of the Vatican priests in the Sistine Chapel! It was an amazing experience that we'll remember for the rest of our lives. We could not have been more pleased with Davide and were sad to split ways! *Photo of the dogs was taken during the Truffle Hunt.

Amalfi Coast: 1st Class Train and transfers - Once again the train was easy and we had no issues! What a beautiful hotel and location in Sorrento. We had a nice room with a nice view. The service was great, and was also very accommodating with my gluten free needs. We really enjoyed the pool, especially since it was a lot warmer than Tuscany - we could actually lay out and enjoy the sunshine! Amalfi tour had amazing views! We loved all of our tour guides on the Amalfi Coast and Capri.

Santorini, Greece: Our hotel was lovely with stunning views! Our room was nice and the service was awesome. Once again, the hotel was very accommodating with my gluten free needs, probably the best of the bunch! The restaurant views were perfect and I could stare off into the sunset forever! The evening Sunset Dinner Cruise was a wonderful experience, the crew was friendly and super welcoming and they cooked us an amazing meal! It was a fun and relaxing excursion and right up our alley. Three full days of leisure, much needed after touring Italy! We enjoyed time by the infinity pool for most of this time!

Overall experience: All communication was prompt and professional which was greatly appreciated! You put a personal touch on details I wouldn't have thought of. We had a great time in Italy and Greece and we can't wait to visit again! Here are a few pictures! Thanks again.

Nick and Jackie, Chicago, IL


Italy with Rome, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast

Hi Deena. Thank you for all of your help with our great trip. We arrived home safely. Just a few highlights. Rome: We took a long walk on our first night and enjoyed getting lost. The next day, on our Rome Highlights tour, Luca was great. He was friendly, and asked for our preferences. He checked in with us about the pace of our tour and answered all of our questions. His knowledge was incredible and we were very happy with him.

Capri: We enjoyed the Blue Grotto, the chair lift to Monte Solaro, and lunch in Anacapri. We walked around the city center of Capri and the gardens, then enjoyed gelato and lemon slush. Dinner at Villa Verde that night was delicious. We took the boat tour around Capri! It was great. Then back to the hotel, lunch in the Marina Grande, and then walked around and had more gelato. We went to one of the public beaches (very rocky) and then relaxed at the pool until dinner in Capri. Our guide, Michaele was very good.

Sorrento: The hotel is gorgeous and the suite is beautiful! We enjoyed our “roller coaster” (better known here as the Amalfi Drive). Wow, according to our driver guide, Felice, the road has more than 1000 turns. Boy, did our core get a work out. Felice (he) was knowledgeable and a great driver. We stopped for lunch in town just in time for the rain, however, after we were done, the sun came out again. After seeing the beautiful sites of Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano, we headed back to the hotel, then to Sorrento for another delicious dinner.

Our day of leisure - after breakfast we went to town, and then enjoyed the beach and pool. Back to town for dinner and then it was time to pack up for our early flight home. We confirmed everything with Maria, who was very nice and helpful. Thanks again, Deena. We hope to talk to you next year for who knows where??

Margaret, Newark, NJ


Maldives

Hi Deena! The trip was amazing, even better than we expected:

Resort: LOVED IT. Reminded us of our resort in Bora Bora. It was so nice to have our own island with so much beach to walk around and play in. The rooms are on the opposite side of the island from the food/main beaches/bar which was nice because it gave you time to walk off your meals. Sandy floors and barely anyone wore shoes the whole time. The middle of the island was built like a jungle, similar to our resort in Thailand so it was fun walking through it every day to get places.

Rooms: The rooms and balconies were huge! Our room had a TON of wildlife swimming in the waters below. Lots of black tip sharks 2 to 4 feet long, sting rays, squid, etc. We would get up around 5 or 6am and just watch the sharks swim around. Then we snorkeled in the afternoon. The water was anywhere from like 2 to 4 feet deep.

Food: Ah-mazing! Way better than Bora Bora. We STUFFED ourselves at every meal. The Drinks were delicious too, especially the smoothies and coconuts.

Staff: Very sweet.  A little quieter than Bora Bora until we chatted with them. They asked for feedback all the time to make the place better. You could tell they really cared.

Guests: We were the only Americans, that was pretty typical. They could tell by how much fun we had with people.

Weather: Perfect. 85 with a breeze every day

Flights: Longer of course, but we stayed in the Dubai Airport Hotel both ways. It was a life saver to sleep during long layovers

Activities: We signed up to snorkel with whale sharks (no luck finding them, so it turned into a 6 hour boat ride). If any of your clients want whale sharks, they suggested staying in resorts on the south side so you can go more often. We also signed up for photo shoot with drone. They take you to the private island and take your pictures and use a drone and create a video for you- so cool! Attaching those to this email ! (Some of the pictures/video is too large so I'm trying to find another way to share it with you!

Overall the trip was absolutely amazing. Relaxing, fun and just a great place to escape reality. We both agreed it was the most relaxed and enjoyable trip to date we have had.  The Maldives gives Bora Bora a run for it's money and you know how much we love it there! Being on the opposite time zone really helped us unplug and not even worry about work because by the time we woke up, everyone was asleep.

Arriving and leaving on a sea plane was so much fun and was a really cool way to see some of the islands. But overall we just loved being on the beach as much as we could. We would sit/walk/nap on the beach, do a couple little activities and eat until we couldn't anymore. It was the perfect winter getaway. We would recommend anyone coming here to get away and would consider re-visiting the same resort. THANK YOU! for planning another unforgettable trip for us, Deena. We will remember this one forever. Now the hard part will be picking which picture goes onto our wall!

Crystal & Brad, Chicago, IL


Grand Cayman

Deena - Lovely! I loved the island. The waters are spectacular. I have never seen water like that before. We all had a great time.

I actually really miss it, and I normally come back from vacation “vacationed out”. This time I really did not want to leave. I think it was the combination of the kids being at perfect ages, and the beauty of the beaches. The resort’s service was fantastic!!

It’s been wonderful. Too good, really. Hard to leave. It’s so beautiful. This is a really tough one see come to an end. Thank you!

Megan, Chicago, IL - Cayman Islands


Greece Anniversary

Thank you for checking in. We had an absolutely fabulous time! Everyone was exceptional. We enjoyed your tour guides to ancient Corinth and Delos. Diana and Joanna were very knowledgeable and relational. All transfer were on time and clearly marked so we knew who they were. This took so much stress out of the trip for us - we didn't have to figure out how to get rides to/from the airport or docks. It was also wonderful to have a Guardian Angel. Thank you again for this gift. Weine helped us a number of times. The hotels you chose were excellent. We wouldn't change a thing. I would highly recommend the hotels in Crete and in Santorini. Both were in excellent locations for us, not in the center of all the hustle and bustle but close enough to walk to anything we wanted to do. Their hospitality was exceptional as well. John, manager in Oia was engaging and friendly and so very helpful with any questions we had. His staff was very well trained and as a small boutique hotel they catered to every need and whim of their guests.

We thoroughly enjoyed the sunset dinner cruise and would recommend that to other travelers. Our catamaran crew was exceptional and made it very enjoyable. The other two hotels were also great. The hotel in Mykonos had wonderful staff, exceptional food, and a wonderful location. Our room was a bit small but not too inconvenient since we never spent much time in our rooms anyway and we had a nice private deck with lounge furniture to expand our space.

We filled our days full of adventure. We rented scooters twice (Athens and Crete) and explored far beyond our hotel area. Most of the locals stared at us wide-eyed when we told them how far we ventured out. Haha....made us laugh. We rented a car on Crete and drove to Chania on the east side of the island and then down into the central region. We got a wonderful glimpse of what the island is like outside of Plaka/Elounda. We also loved visiting the little town of Kritsa. If I'm not mistaken it is the oldest continually inhabited village on Crete. It is so quaint. It's difficult to draw favorites because we loved every place we went, but Crete definitely rises to the top. For us it is probably because it was a vast place to explore. We also rented a car on Mykonos.

We love antiquities and history. To visit the Acropolis was amazing and to stand on Mars Hill where the apostle Paul engaged the Greek philosophers was unbelievably surreal. Ancient Corinth made us feel the same way. Tying Biblical history to the areas we visited was surreal. If/when we go back, we would also visit the Epidaurus theatre in Peloponnese Greece, not too far from Corinth. It wasn't on our radar prior to going but would be worth the trip there.  To sum it up: Everything was PHENOMENAL!! Thank you so much for making our trip extra special. 

Tammie, Kansas City, MO - Athens, Crete, Mykonos, & Santorini


Italy

Dear Deena, our trip was wonderful! Do I have a favorite? I can’t say. Each city was unique and wonderful in its own way. Our first stop, Venice, was amazing - the city on water. The hotel you chose is beautiful, both visually and in service. My brother Edward’s room was ready when we arrived early, however our room was not. I guess it pays to have an Italian last name in Italy! This became a joke, because when we arrived in Florence his room again was ready and ours was not! All transfers and tour guides were excellent! Elianora in Venice was adorable, knowledgeable and so pleasant!  Simona in Florence also was so pleasant and full of knowledge. We really enjoyed their company! Our hotel in Florence was also very nice, service very good.

Tuscany! What can I say? It is just beautiful! Our cooking class was fun and delicious! Then the drive to our (13 century old) villa, wow! The grounds were spectacular, the views were incredible! Gilbert, who checked us in was constantly there to help or just smile and say Buon Giorno! Our Day in Siena and San Gimignano was so nice as was our lunch at Belsoggiorno. What a view! Mark and I enjoyed the wonderful picnic lunch in the middle of the vineyard with no one around! The weather couldn’t have been better the entire week. It rained once for a short time and then a rainbow appeared!!! Thank you, Deena, for a great trip! I will send some pictures soon. It was a pleasure to work with you! Thank you!

Margaret, Paramus, NJ - Venice, Florence, & Tuscany


Bora Bora, French Polynesia

The trip was amazing per usual. All of your excellent planning was seamless and we get like pros going back a second time! Weather was beautiful (lightly misted the first day) and the rest was 82 and sunny. The water was a tad colder (it’s their winter) but it was assuring to know we weren’t there in the rainy season. You could tell it was the “busy season” but we still felt like the resort was ours. Instead of seeing 6 people on the beach we would see 15. The locals that work at the resort were amazing. They remembered us and almost dropped the glasses they were carrying when they saw us. They treated us like royalty being regulars now. One of them had her sons serenade us with a guitar and song when we were leaving and when we boarded our departure boat. They truly make the experience unique and once in a lifetime with their kindness. I’ve attached my iphone pictures below. It’s hard to believe it’s more beautiful in person that what you see in these photos. We might need to plan a 3rd time for September next year! Once we piece together some ideas we will get your feedback and start planning! THANK YOU again for making this trip one to never forget! Sincerely,

C & B, Chicago, IL - Bora Bora


Hungary, Austria, & Czech Republic

Hi Deena.  We made it back safe and sound, and truly enjoyed our trip. It has been hard to talk about anything else since we got back. The sights, sounds, and tastes were memorable; and we truly appreciate your assistance in ensuring we had such a memorable experience.  Thank you!  Here is a review for you to share.

We had an incredible time on our trip, and really truly appreciated the ease with which we got around Europe. Global Getaways and Deena made our trip to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague incredibly easy. All of our travel needs were taken care of, and that enabled us to focus on the fun things we would do while we were abroad.

Deena was always available to answer our questions before we traveled, and had contacts in all of the cities we visited that acted as our "Guardian Angels."  We will surely use her services again, and cannot say enough about how much we enjoyed our trip. Deena, we wanted to thank you again for all of the care and thought that went into making our trip so memorable.  Best regards, 

Julian and Morgan, Indianapolis, IN - Budapest, Vienna, & Prague


Thailand

Re-reading Dani's recap email just now made me want to catch the next flight back out there! I couldn't agree with everything she wrote more - it was truly the most fun trip we've ever taken! I will say that Ning and Tien (and her husband Son) were honestly the most amazing hosts/guides we could have possibly hoped for.  If there is a way to pass along those sentiments to their company or if you can refer people to them moving forward we would truly appreciate it.  They made our experience so special. And a big thank you to you as well, for such a great job planning our honeymoon and making it something we'll never forget.  Thanks once more for everything.

Kyle, San Jose, CA - Bangkok, Koh Samui, & Chiang Mai Honeymoon


Thailand

Hi Deena! Sorry this has been a crazy busy week! Honestly the honeymoon was amazing. We really only have the best things to say about how everything went. The tour guides were AMAZING. When we started in Bangkok we met our tour guide, Ning. We had so much fun with her and she really helped us navigate Bangkok. Having the Tuk Tuk dinner that night was perfect because she helped us figure out the food and try different things. It set the stage for the whole trip and all the amazing food we ate. It was such an amazing start to our trip we just didn't think that the other tour guide that we met would even be close to her. When we got to Chaing Mai, Tien and the driver picked us up. Tien was just as amazing as Ning! She was so sweet to us and answered literally any question that we had. We spent a lot of longer drives with her and were able to really talk about Chiang Mai and all the different things to learn about the city. It was also great to go to the cooking class that was held at her house and hosted by her husband!! This was really special since we had formed a friendship with her and then were able to see where she lived and meet her husband, who was super nice, and cook amazing food with them! I honestly could not say more wonderful things about those two ladies. 

The islands were so fun. The Koh Phangan resort was beautiful and it was great to be right on the beach. It was lovely that it wasn't a super busy beach and we could go out at any point and find a spot to relax. They even had free gin, vodka, and whiskey in the room that was refilled every day which was fun, haha. We loved that it was right by a little town that we could walk to and get massages and cheap food. We honestly could have spent the whole two weeks there and it would have been great. This was probably our favorite resort of the whole trip. The Half Moon Party was so fun!! The VIP tickets were awesome since we had our own bar and bathroom which is key at a music festival. The few days we spent on this island were amazing. Koh Samui was great. The resort was beautiful and there were so many things to do at the resort. They also had bikes we borrowed which was great because we were able to ride into the town and see things outside of the resort. The only thing about Koh Samui is there didn't seem to be as much to do at night outside of the resort. We were disappointed that we didn't get to snorkel but obviously we can't control the weather. It was nice though to have nothing planned on these days because we could go at our own speed and go to town and explore if we wanted or just lay by the beach and have a lazy day. 

Chiang Mai was probably our favorite location of the whole trip. The Four Seasons was incredible, the whole resort was so pretty, the food was amazing and our room was beautiful. We really didn't spend much time at the resort because we loved the city so much! We were a little nervous that the resort was so far from the center of town but it was great that the Four Seasons had a free shuttle to and from the night market at various times which was perfect. The Elephant Experience was incredible! Being around the elephants was a once in a lifetime experience and we are so glad we did that. We loved that it felt like we were really caring for the animals and it wasn't just a way for them to make money and exploit the elephants. The rest of Chiang Mai was great. We went to the night market every night, explored the city and went to a show at a bar called Ram Bar which was the most fun! Again the cooking class was amazing. Whenever you plan trips in Chiang Mai for people, send them to this cooking class. Going to the market and having them show us around and see where the locals shop was really cool. Then to go to their home and cook authentic Thai food was amazing. It was honestly the best food we have eaten the whole trip (we take no credit, hah!  The chef guiding us did a fantastic job). 

Again this was the most amazing trip ever and we can't thank you enough for helping us plan this. The fact that all of our transportation was set up was so great. We didn't have to worry at all about how we were going to get to our hotels or airports and being in a country that we have never been to, this was awesome. The tours were just enough that we got to see the highlights of Bangkok and Chiang Mai without feeling like we were just on a tour trip the whole time. Sorry for the long email.  I could have written so much more but I think you get the idea that this was phenomenal. 

Danielle, San Jose, CA - Thailand City & Island Honeymoon,


Bora Bora, French Polynesia Honeymoon

Dear Deena, Our honeymoon trip to Bora Bora was incredible. As you know, I’ve traveled a fair amount and this experience exceeded my expectations tenfold. First, you went above and beyond in helping us get the exact timing, location and resort we desired. You often spent hours helping us and working with your partners to get it just right. Amazing. We felt like a priority and that our opinions mattered greatly. It was the ultimate in customer experience. Thank you for all that you did! 

Secondly, the trip itself was perfection. Everything from the transportation to and from the island to the checking in was smooth and relaxing. The resort was unbelievable in quality and customer excellence. The staff went the extra mile to make it a customized and premium experience. The rooms were extravagant, clean, and spacious. We loved the Overwater Bungalow and the Beach Villa equally so you did such a great job with those selections. The overwater villa had an epic view of Mount Otumanu, which made it that much more beautiful. The food was unparalleled and the resort even had a renowned Chef on staff. The excursions you helped us choose were phenomenal as well. We absolutely loved the beginner scuba activity. We want to get certified now! We explored the ocean floor and some exotic, colorful sea life alongside the instructor. He was hilarious and the whole trip was a blast. The Shark and Ray tour was top of the list too. I highly recommend it to see the perimeter of the island, snorkel a bit and check out these beautiful creatures. Not scary at all!

Outside of that, we enjoyed relaxing on our patio, riding bikes, paddle boarding, exploring the main island and snorkeling on our own. The spa was another ultra-relaxing must-do activity. Thank you for upholding this experience as a priority and making sure every detail was accommodated. Our honeymoon is something we will remember forever and you were a part of making it so wonderful. I highly recommend Global Getaways as they make the process so easy and stress-free and definitely have the inside knowledge of these locations and accommodations that provide such a valuable service, especially for those of us who are busy in the throes of planning a wedding. Thank you again for making this a perfect experience!

Jeff & Jill, San Diego, CA - Bora Bora Honeymoon


Mexico

Hey Deena.  Apologies for the delay here but wanted to let you know Kelsey and I had a wonderful trip! The resort was beautiful and we had an amazing view right on the water! We had great weather everyday and really enjoyed spending time at the pool as well as the excursions you planned! Both Zip lining and Snorkeling were such fun experiences and what really made them exceptional was the tour guides on both, they really showed us a fabulous time and these 2 activities were definitely highlights of the trip! 

Below are a couple pics, the top one is from when we went snorkeling and the second one is from when we went out to dinner one night. Thank you so much for everything, we had an amazing time and are already thinking about where we want to go next! 

Brittany & Kelsey, Chicago, IL & Silver Spring, MD - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico


Bali & Ubud, Indonesia

Hi Deena.  Thank you for everything.  The whole trip was incredible, the most beautiful place we have ever visited.  We are so happy that we stayed in Ubud and not just Bali.  The hotel was beautiful, such a boutique hotel with gorgeous bed and pool.  The whole place was genuine and very close to the culture.  Everywhere we went, even when walking, the people were so kind and wonderful, thanking us for visiting, very welcoming.  The culture was amazing, mixing both new and old. From the beginning at the airport, we were greeted with your VIP service, who was waiting for us.  Amazing!  They had cookies for us, and brought us to our guide and driver, greeting us like in Hawaii, with beautiful, scented Frangipani flowers.  The guides were excellent and the tour excursions were stunning.  The only time we had trouble was with the second guide for one excursion who did not speak English as well as the others.  But we didn't care.  We just followed along with him, and he took us to some beautiful places, so lovely.  The scenery was incredible.

We met the lady in charge of the tour company, and she greeted us with a box of cookies and fruit too.  So friendly and kind.  Fritz, our third guide was the best, so amazing and sweet, and such a gentleman.  He was always opening our doors, offering us cold water, as was our dear driver, Maddie.  So professional and he had a great sense of humor.  He shared interesting information about family and traditions, and we never once felt awkward during our drives.  We are in hospitality and taught to go above and beyond.  They went above "above and beyond" and we didn't have any idea what they could do to make the experience any better, it was so amazing.  For example, they know what we do for a living, and knew that we made chocolates and enjoyed coffee.  As a surprise - and not pre-planned - they took us to a place that made coffee.  They talked to the owners, and asked if we could have a tour. It was not touristy at all, but they did it because they knew we would enjoy it.  It was amazing

Regarding the fishing, to be honest, our experience in Key West was the best.  The fishing equipment here needed to be a bit updated, but the boat itself was incredibly beautiful and comfortable, and the people were so amazing and kind.  When it was time to eat, we told them we were feeling a little queasy because of the waves.  They said no problem, we know of a little island that we can take you to!  Then they took us to this incredible private island with a small restaurant, and beautiful colors.  They anchored and a little boat picked us up, and we enjoyed some delicious Jumbo Shrimp and relaxed for about 45 minutes before heading back out.  We were overwhelmed by the kindness of everyone, everyone wanting to please you.  And knowing I had problems with my knee, everyone always made sure I was ok, and they were not moving too quickly. 

The highlight of our time in Ubud was getting to meet the General Manager and the Chef at their hotel.  They allowed me into their kitchen and we were able to cook with the Chef while in my Chef's jacket, take photos, and take a tour.  It was incredible and we loved it.  This trip was exactly what we were looking for.  Thank you so much for everything.

Chef & Esther Roby, Geneva, IL - Ubud & Bali, Indonesia


Bora Bora, French Polynesia Honeymoon

Hi Deena. Brad and I wanted to thank you again for planning such a magical vacation to Bora Bora!! I am not sure how any experience or beach can ever top this place. It truly was more beautiful in person than in the pictures. We were able to unwind within a day of being there and we could not have been happier with the accommodations and everyone that worked there.  Highlights, not particularly in order, but close.

#1 - The beach and scenery!  Our end of pontoon overwater bungalow had the best unobstructed view of the mountain. We would just sit on the balcony in the morning in absolute peace. It was nice that there weren't really waves like a typical ocean. It also felt as though the resort was ours! There was only a handful of people on the beach, at the pool or around the resort every day which was great. You could really just relax in peace or head up to the pool bar to meet some new friends (which of course we did).  We think our has the best spot, especially beach wise. It was SO shallow for so long and had the best view of the mountain. The fact you could walk out in knee or waist high water and sit in nets allowed you to relax in the ocean like you would in a pool. But with a 10000x better view.

#2 - Shark Feeding and snorkeling with Sting rays and Manta rays. Although scary at first to think we were just swimming in open water with about 40 black tip sharks and 2 Lemon Sharks, there really was a sense of peace with the animals and the guides made everyone feel so safe. The guides were hysterical, especially the one named "Crazy" , we heard that Crazy pulled an Octopus out of a home and placed him on peoples heads so the tentacles looked like dreads. It was also amazing to snorkel above a huge Manta Ray and then stand in shallow waters with Stingrays flopping all over you. I can't believe they were so soft and nice! And the sharks that were just practically running into our legs, but never bothered us.

#3- Wave runners around the whole island.  The views were incredible seeing the 7 shades of blue and in and out of the coves by the mountain. We shared 1 jetski, could have used 2, but it is actually hard to hold onto it for the full 1hour45min so I am glad Brad did all the driving and I could just watch the views. Once we got to our snack time in the middle of the tour, they let me ride the wave runner by myself and I was just laughing and shouting the entire time. 

#4 -The People!  The natives were so nice and accommodating but never bothered you. It wasn't commercialized so you got the true island feel and the natives were so patient with us trying to learn their language and always had a smile on their face and were laughing. When we left one of the workers gave me presents (Bora Bora bracelet, key chain and magnet) and they all thanked us "for being so nice and making them feel like they were part of our party".  So we def. walked away with some new friends :)

Bora Bora will always have a special spot in our hearts, I have dreamt about it almost every single night since I have been back. We hope to return there again, and not just make it a "once in a lifetime" spot.  Again, THANK YOU for another amazing trip that went off without a hitch. It always makes the trips more enjoyable when we have you there to take care of everything. We truly appreciate your expertise and guidance

Brad & Crystal, Chicago, IL - Bora Bora


Honeymoon Planning

Dear Deena, Jeff and I are so thankful for you going above and beyond for us.  We appreciate every minute you spent making our dream honeymoon come to life. You went the extra mile and we want to thank you and your family for letting us borrow you for hours and late nights.  You are excellent at what you do. 

Jeff & Jill, San Diego, CA - Honeymoon Planning


New Zealand Honeymoon

Dear Deena, Thank you for touching base and for following up on the few issues we had. The trip as a whole was amazing, and we truly feel like we experienced the whole of New Zealand. We're still sifting through photos, but highlights included Bungy Jumping, the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise, helicopter ride (so glad we still did it despite the initial cancellation!), and Blanket Bay. It was a once in a lifetime trip. Thanks for your help throughout the planning and issues on the trip. Have a great rest of your week

Ali, Chicago, IL - New Zealand Adventures


Spain & Greece

Dear Deena, We are about to board our final leg from Philly to Indy. We had an amazing trip! We were so pleased with the accommodations (comfort & location) in both cities. The trip also confirmed what you said about 3 destinations being too hectic on such a short timeline.  Nice call!  One of the highlights was definitely the sunset cruise in Santorini. I'm sure that would have been an amazing adventure no matter what, but the company you booked with took it to the next level! The boat/number of people on board was the perfect size and the crew was so charismatic. Also, our resort in Santorini was wonderful - it was definitely a good idea to book us at a place that had the shuttle to the beach and Fira. The staff here was incredibly helpful anytime we had an inquiry and most knew us by name by our second day there.  Thanks again for everything!

Krista, Indianapolis, IN - Barcelona & Santorini


Tanzania, East Africa Family Reunion

Thanks Deena.  You have been absolutely fabulous and no problem at all.  There were so many things you had to take care of and it's amazing how you have taken care of everything.  Our trip would have been much more complicated and uncertain had you not addressed all these issues (e.g the suggestion you had about contacting insurance when baggage was missing was way beyond what you needed to have done).

Our tented camps and the lodging have been awesome.  Really nicer than we expected.  Our drivers are great, and also very helpful people.  Everything has been fabulous.  We saw all the animals we wanted to see except the Rhino, which we knew would be tough.  Everything has gone really well and special thanks for all your help.  You have been absolutely fabulous to work with!  We will drop a note once we get back to Dallas!  (More photos to follow.)

Matthew, Dallas, TX - Tanzania & Dar es Salaam


Mexico Anniversary

Hi Deena.  Unfortunately, we’re home.  THANK YOU for putting together a truly wonderful, sweet, special, and memorable 25th anniversary celebration for Tracey and me.  You were so thoughtful, excellent, and outstanding. Without a doubt, we made the right choice to have you put together such a wonderful celebration for us.  

The Resort was beautiful and a great experience over-all.  The pool, the beach, the rooms, the restaurants, spa, sports, everything you want is right there and done very well. Great place.  The staff, the hundreds of staff, were all super friendly, excellent, and ready to serve well - every single one of them.  The only exceptions were the waiters in the restaurants during dinner hours. They present you with a wine list, which is very pricey. If you don’t want to pay extra for a bottle of wine, they get a little pushy. If you still refuse, they literally change their attitude and service towards you. It’s not bad, just not as good and pleasant. This was a bit frustrating, knowing you had to deal with this each evening for dinner.

The entertainment there was almost non-stop and so much fun, whether you participated or just listened/observed.  All day long there were activities at the pool: pool Zumba, pool aerobics, live bands, mechanical bull riding, pool volleyball, dance contests, cigar wrapping class (at the pool), Spanish lessons, sushi making classes, and more.  All of it was done so very well. The staff are excellent and all the guests loved them.  Then you still had beach volleyball, water sports like sailing, jet skis, paddle boards, para sailing, swimming with the dolphins, and more.

All Inclusive Service:  Women walk around the pool all day long getting drinks for you tirelessly. Amazing.  Coffee, restaurants, snacks, all free, always available.  Amazing.  Special taco stands or other lunch specials occurred almost daily.   The Preferred Club was a very nice touch and should be taken advantage of regularly.  We often went over to the Preferred Club around 5 pm, between our day at the pool and heading out for dinner.  We would get fresh nuts, fruit, sushi, assorted cheeses, and any wine or specialty drink we wanted. We would sit just outside the door to the club in a semi-private patio area.  It was so nice.  We had an amazing time that we will so fondly remember the rest of our lives. We are so pleased and we are so incredibly pleased with your work. THANK YOU!!  Love and Blessings from Tracey and me.

Blaine & Tracey, Harrisburg, PA - Playa Mujeres, Mexico


Canada

We are having a wonderful time!  Prince Edward Island was wonderful.  We had a wonderful dinner at "The Keg".  The prime rib was to die for.  The lobster a bit chewy, but still tasty, and the service was excellent.   We both love this trip.  The tidal bore was no big deal, wavy muddy water, but we got to see a couple of dolphin pods swimming by, which was fun.  Singing Sands don't sing, but if someone were staying on the island for a week, I'd definitely recommend it.  The lighthouse was fun.  The 9:30 Whale Tour followed by the beautiful gardens was so perfect.  We saw adult and fledgling Bald Eagles, Harbor Porpoises, Whales, Razor Bill Owls, and on the ship tour, they brought in samples of live sea creatures.  I enjoyed the tea and crackers with salmon, and the live animals were great.  Great time! By the way the Anne of Green Gables musical was awesome!  

Laura, Chicago, IL - Prince Edward Island & New Brunswick, Canada


Spain & Portugal Honeymoon

We had such a wonderful trip and were so grateful for the conveniences that Deena provided us. We love working with Deena because she removes the stressors of travel and allows us to simply enjoy our vacation.  She makes sure everything is taken care of from flights to transportations, to finding us the perfect hotels for our taste and budget. The Hotel in Lisbon was incredibly nice, and couldn't have been a better location. We absolutely loved it (and didn't hurt that they gave us a glass of champagne upon arrival and had another bottle waiting for us in our room!). Some of our favorite attractions (which were listed in our travel deck) were Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, Barrio Alto in Lisbon, Belem Tower, Sintra, and Cascais. Overall, it was a magical trip and we will absolutely be contacting Deena for our next excursion! Here are some pics of some of our favorite experiences. 

Mike &  Tara, Chicago, IL - Barcelona & Lisbon


Mexico Mother/Daughter Getaway

Dear Deena, We are both so grateful to you for once again helping us to have a wonderful vacation!  You smooth out all the wrinkles and know how to make us smile when we reach our destination.  Your extra effort and attention to the smallest details in advance for us has always paid big dividends in pleasure!  Our most recent trip to Cancun that your brought together on VERY short notice was just lovely, relaxing, luxurious, and exactly what we dreamed of.  Saying thank you is not sufficient!  Please know how much we appreciate you.  (Review is below):

My daughter and I just spent 4 amazing days at the Secrets Resort in Cancun. Everything about this resort is set up to welcome you to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean. From the moment you enter the spacious contemporary lobby with it's refreshing scent, you feel pampered. The furnishings, decorations and lighting are elegantly simple and offer multiple sitting areas to gather for sipping a drink or playing a board game or just gazing at the large modern centrally located fireplace.

We stayed in a master suite with an ocean view and the room was over-the-top fantastic! Loads of space to spread out and to make ourselves at home. All the amenities were luxurious and we felt so comfortable and spoiled. We spent at least an hour each evening on our balcony watching the sunset with a lovely breeze to keep us comfortable.

There were 4 pools, so we tried them all and thoroughly loved each one! Each has a slightly different feel and gave us a new "view" and experience. The water is heated, so it's easy to stay "in" the pool for a long time to relax.  The multiple restaurants and 24 hour room service provide delicious, multi-ethnic food choices, as well as pool side menus and a wide variety of beverage choices from wherever you are. Meals are served leisurely and with such beautiful presentation. 

The spa was so fantastic...great massages and terrific relaxation areas for before and after treatments. When you exit the elevators for the floor that the spa and a few restaurants are on, you are greeted by the most enchanting scent! We commented on it EVERY time we smelled it. Well done, Secrets!  Every single staff member at Secrets made us feel special. Their kindness and service enhanced our experience by their genuine care that we were enjoying ourselves.  It was really hard to leave the gorgeous blue waters and laid back days we spent here. We both would gladly return!!  Love,

Janet & Caitlin, Naperville, IL - Mexico Adventures


Japan Father/Son Adventure

Dear Deena, on the way to the airport.  Wow, what an incredible trip.  I have no words for your incredible organizational skills.  It was amazing.  And to coordinate all those moving parts from so far away is amazing.  The tea ceremony was incredibly beautiful.  

And both guides were amazing.  Not only great guides but very very nice ladies.  Memories of a lifetime.  Thank you again so much for helping us create life time memories. I hope to see you upon my return and share some more feedback about our trip.  Thanks again, and I hope to see you soon.

Chef Roby, Chicago, IL - Japanese Adventures


Tokyo & Kyoto, Japan

Hello Deena.  I just wanted to thank you so much for all the follow up for what happened at the start.  We were very happy with how everything was handled and the rest of the trip was very smooth!  I was completely blown away by this trip to Japan!  I feel that with the week we had, we were able to make every minute count and that is all thanks to you and your planning.  I have been to many places abroad, but this was just far past any expectation I had! The guides were also a huge part of this, and I want to mention their names because they really did make our vacation that much memorable as they became friends too.  Yoko and Nana were truly amazing people and made our adventure in each city special.  Again, thank you so much for the wonderful time I had in Japan with my father, it was truly the greatest adventure!  Sincerely,  

Adrian Roby, Geneva, IL - Japanese Adventures


Thailand

Deena!  So SO sorry we have not written you sooner! Once we got back, the time adjustment was tough and catching up on work really kicked our butts, lol  Anyhow - the trip was AMAZING! Thank you - thank you - thank you for all of your hard work planning it!  We would be happy to speak with you on the phone and fill you in on our favorite parts.  There are too many to write in here!  The whole trip went on without a hitch thanks to you. Our guides were absolutely fantastic getting us everywhere and were some of the most genuine people ever that we loved spending time with, A+++ service!  I will send over more pics later, my email is having hard time getting them.

Crystal & Brad, Chicago, IL - Thailand Adventures


Mexico Friends’ Getaway

Hi Deena.  Sorry about the delay. I’ve been beyond busy.  Yes, it was an incredible time! We absolutely loved the resort. I got the balloons and cake upon my arrival, which was very special.  Thank you! The food, service, and pools were all amazing. I would definitely go back if given the chance. We didn’t take many pictures of the actual resort, but I’ve included a few of all of us.

Grace & Friends, Oklahoma City, OK - Cancun, Mexico 


France & Italy Coastal Anniversary

Hi Deena.  We had an awesome time in France and Italy.  Everything was amazing and went smoothly!  We enjoyed each of the hotels and the transfers were great!  When we arrived in Nice, we immediately saw our driver, Jean.  He picked us up in a black Mercedes and had water for us.  He got us checked into our hotel and let us know that he would be our driver that night.  He recommended a restaurant for dinner and made reservations for us.  He was great to work with and recommended some places to see on our 4 hours together. We settled in to our hotel and were surprised by a knock at the door with two decadent deserts and a personal note to make us feel special.   Jean took us to Eze, a charming hilltop town and gave us some time to explore, then gave us a driving tour of Monaco and Monte Carlo.  He took extra time with us allowing us time to eat without cutting into much of our tour time.  We loved the sea views from the hotel in Nice.  It was an amazing place.  The staff was very friendly, accommodating and service oriented.   Loved it!

The second day we slept in until noon and spent the afternoon exploring Nice further.  We walked to a Russian Cathedral and then to a fort lookout called Belanda Tower that had panoramic views of the area.  We walked through a market area to get there and stopped to eat outdoors on the way back.  In the morning our same driver, Jean, picked us up and took us to the train station.  He parked and took us in and directed us to where we would catch the train.  He was a great guy and we enjoyed getting to know him.

Once we arrived at the train station in Genova, we were greeted by Nicolas. He picked us up in a black Mercedes and had water and towelettes for us.  He was extremely friendly, knowledgable and easy to understand.  He drove us through Genova (Genoa) and through his town of Santa Margherita to Portofino.  After eating along the water, we hiked up to the church and out to the lighthouse.  We took time to peek into a store or two on the way.  Then we hopped back in the car and headed to Portovenere, our home base for the next two nights.  The junior suite we had had a wonderful balcony and amazing views out both windows.  On one side we could see the sea and the other side we could see the town of Portovenere.  They gave us your sweet welcome note and a bottle of wine with some fresh fruit.  After settling in we headed out into town and walked along the narrow interior streets and explored the church and cliff edge.  We had a nice dinner along the water enjoying some local fish.  The next day we took the early ferry to Cinque Terre.  We felt like we did the Amazing Race at Cinque Terre.  We arrived at the farthest town, Monterosso, by ferry and worked our way back using the train.  We enjoyed a nice lunch at a recommended place called Gianni Franci in Vernazza.  We spent our wisest 1.50 Euro and took a bus to the top of Corniglia and then walked the steps to come down.  We headed to Manarola next, one of our favorites and hit Riomaggiore last.  

When we got up the next morning we headed to the airport.  We were excited to see Nicolas again.  He had water for us and provided us with a nice scenic drive and lots of information on our way to the airport.  He was a great driver and extremely personable.  He dropped us off at the terminal and we spent the rest of the day flying.  Our next driver was waiting outside baggage claim.  When we arrived at Capri, we were met at the end of the dock by a driver from our hotel who transferred us to Anacapri.  Such an interesting ride with the extremely narrow streets - smallest traffic circle I have ever seen.  When we arrived at our hotel, we were welcomed like family and shown around.  What an amazing place.  Spectacular views and so welcoming, and many places to sit and relax.  You felt as if you were visiting their home, which is the way Fransisco explained it when he welcomed us.  We loved our room and everything about the place was amazing!!!  The food was delicious, very special!  

We had just missed the sunset when we arrived but made it in time for a wonderful dinner.  It rained hard during the night and so we woke up to an overcast day. The concierge felt it would be too rough for a boat tour around the island, so we walked into town and had a delicious calzone.  We took a taxi to the Blue Grotto and due to the weather, we were able to quickly see and experience the boat ride through the small opening.  We took a bus back into town and then rode the chair lift to the summit of Monte Solaro. It was beautiful on the way up and back.  Upon our return we took a hike recommended by the concierge out to the lookout way above the lighthouse at the far end.  By the time we got back it was starting to shower again. We headed back and relaxed, excited for another delicious dinner.  It rained again during the night and so we chose to just relax at the resort in the morning and scheduled our transfer for around noon.  

It was a quick ride to Sorrento.   We had a nice room overlooking  the water.  They had a plate of petit fours waiting for us when we arrived and made a dinner reservation for us in the hotel.  Once we settled in, we walked around the shopping area and grabbed a late lunch.  We shopped and relaxed until dinner.  We enjoyed the 5 course menu option by their chef who they said had earned a Michelin Star.  The meal was exquisite.

The next day we met our driver, Dale, and began our tour of the Amalfi Coast.  He was a great driver and very nice.  It was drizzling all morning.  He gave us some time at Positano and Amalfi where we could walk the streets and check out some shops.  Then we headed to Ravello and he made a reservation for us at a nice restaurant with amazing views and delicious cuisine.  He recommended that after lunch we walk to the see the gardens of Villa Rufolo.  It provided us with views of the beautiful garden and wonderful elevated views of the coast.  He also took us to the neighboring town of Scala to see a church that was over 1000 years old, a simple building on the outside, but quite large and interesting to see inside.  The rain stopped around lunch time. When we got back, we were tired from a day of touring and had eaten a large lunch at a fine restaurant so we chose to eat pizza via room service and relax for the evening.  On our last day in Italy, we got up and took a train to see Pompeii.  We were so close, why not!  We found the station easily and got to Pompeii in great time.  We paid for the audio tour and took a good amount of time seeing the sights.  After we had the feel of it we headed back to Sorrento.  We grabbed a late lunch and shopped for any remaining souvenirs we needed for our family.  After a brief rest, we headed back out for our last dinner in Italy at a restaurant about a block away.  We were treated to a piano player right outside our balcony playing the live music on the veranda.  We packed up and were greeted the next morning by our last driver who dropped us at the Naples airport for our journey home.

Every part of our trip was amazing, Deena.  All the connections were seamless.  The drivers were terrific.   The accommodations were gorgeous.  It was an amazing trip.  The only thing we would have changed was the weather.  Anacapri and the Amalfi Coast were  so beautiful, but to have seen them on a beautiful day with sunshine, would have been amazing.  However, there are just certain things beyond our control. 

We were so thankful to get to go on this trip.  I have wanted to do it for so long.  We were thrilled with every part of it.  Galen got a little travel weary on the day we flew from Genova to Naples, but when we arrived in Anacapri, he agreed it was all worth it.  Anacapri was our favorite place.  This hotel was truly special!  Thanks for all the time, effort and thought you put into our trip. It was a trip we will never forget!  We can’t thank you enough for making it so easy and enjoyable and looking out for us in every way.  You are AMAZING, Deena!  We appreciated all your hand written notes and the special welcome that we received at each accommodation.  It was an outstanding trip.  we can’t thank you enough for all your efforts!!!

When I get some time, I’ll forward some pictures or a link.  It is hard to capture the beauty but it triggers our minds to remember.:)  Hope you have a great weekend!

Galen and Kim Eby, Lancaster, PA - France & Italy European Adventures


Kenya Safari & the Seychelles Honeymoon

Hi Deena!  Sorry for the delay in responding.  We have been meaning to write to you about what an AMAZING time we had.  The trip was unbelievable!  
Your planning and ordering of everything was impeccable!  Having someone meet us at each place made us feel so relaxed that we could just enjoy and be escorted to where we needed to be. 
 
Our first camp was one of my favorite places.  The tents were so beautiful and the little details such as rabbit covered water jugs in bed at night, hot embers to keep the room warm, copper bathroom fixtures, the unbelievable organic farm!  And then of course the people.  Sue, Willy, Alice, Mats, and India did a great job making us feel like we’d been welcomed into their home.  But best of all was our tour guide, Legei.  I think Patrick and I both walked away feeling like we had made a new friend and wish our paths would cross again.  He was so knowledgeable but light hearted and just so much fun to spend the days with!  I got a little choked up saying bye to him when we headed to Masai Mara.  Specific highlights from Lewa:

  • Found a rhino horn driving into camp that had been lost by a male battling Sonya (female) to mate with her. Horn was turned over to the authorities immediately but so cool to see.

  • Saw baby cubs, a lioness chased up into a tree from a failed water buffalo attack, cheetah brothers hunting at night, grevyz and zebras everywhere, and the resident giraffe that came up to say hello.

  • We hiked into Ngare Ndare and saw several amazing waterfalls, swam in one of them, and gave some local girls a ride. Patrick loved waving and yelling ‘Jamboooo!!’ to everyone along the way; all of whom kindly waved back.

  • Hearing our tent unzipped in the morning and spying the “cheeky monkeys” looking for the cookies then promptly rezipping our tent when they made eye contact with us.

  • A surprise lunch set up after a canopy walk and a surprise sundowner – they went above and beyond to add little touches and surprises

Onto Masai Mara which was such a different beautiful place than Lewa.  It really came across as a five star hotel with an incredibly attentive and kind staff, run perfectly by Maurice, and facilities that were gorgeous, especially with the hippos just hanging out.  Benson, our awesome guide here, was wonderful about finding many opportunities to share information or facts about the land and people.  For example, why there are “umbrella trees” everywhere, the traditions of the Masai, animal behaviors, etc.  Our highlights from there:

  • Balloon ride!!! We both loved this so much! It was so cool to float over everything and then have breakfast out in the open.

  • Saw cheetahs that were eating a fresh kill, watched the crossing at one of the most photographed points and saw a baby wildebeest taken by a crocodile, found 13 lions on one single day. The game viewing here was unbelievable! While we never saw a leopard on our trip, we saw so many animals we didn’t even think of initially and some that I’ve never seen such as jackals, hyenas, exotic birds, etc.

  • The meals were excellent! All five star and felt so luxurious – Big John outdid himself every time!

  • We did a village visit where Patrick engaged in a jumping contest and I got to dance and sing with the women…eally I just tried to move while I took it all in.

We really maximized our safari days to the point staff was commenting on it at both Lewa and the Mara.  Doing the private tour was definitely the right choice for us! 
 
And then the Seychelles!  The Four Seasons accommodations are hard to even describe!  We spent almost all of our time relaxing in our villa even to the point we were ordering room service just so we didn’t have to leave that spectacular situation.  There’s not a lot for me to write about on this part of the trip because we really just chilled out, read a lot and walked around every now and then.  We did one day trip to snorkel and visit some of the other islands which was nice. 
 
I’ll send pics once we get them all downloaded.  Again, we can’t thank you enough for everything!  We are wondering if you handle planning for other areas or if Africa is really your specialty?  We don’t take many trips of that magnitude but would love to work with you again in the future and will no doubt recommend you to anyone looking at Africa. 

Patrick & Anne Dickinson, Chicago, IL - African Safari & Seychelles Adventure


East African Safari & Seychelles

"Hi Deena! We were waiting to get a couple of days under our belt before writing to let you know just how much we're loving EVERY minute!! The details of this trip you've put together for us could not have been more perfect! And the accommodations, sights, animals and excursions have been some of the most beautiful in my life... Only topped by the people who seem to make this country the vibrant and warm place it is. I'll write with more details when we get back but this has been the most amazing trip of my life so far!! We can't thank you enough!"

Anonymous, Chicago, IL - African Safari & Seychelles Beach Adventure


Thailand

"Hi Deena.  So sorry I haven't sent you feedback, you were on my to-do list! It's been hectic getting back into real life.  The highlight for both of us was the elephant excursion. So cool, and even better than expected.  Phuket was amazing; that hotel was incredible!  We both want to go back to that specific Anantara, but we're definitely a fan of the hotel chain now.  Laying by the pool all day just can't be beat. I've also attached a couple photos, feel free to share!

You were wonderful to work with, we'll let you know if any other big trips are on our radar. Have a great rest of the week!"

Adam and Ali S., Chicago, IL - Thailand Elephant & Beach Birthday Celebration


Mexico Honeymoon

"Deena, thanks for checking in on us.  Also, thanks for providing such timely feedback in regards to our delayed transfer.  The transfer was there at the proper time for pick up.  In regards to Le Blanc, we were blown away.  Talk about a vacation experience!  We thought is was a perfect selection for a perfect honeymoon.  The weather was perfect, the service could not be beat, the staff was friendly, the food was amazing (and did not get old), and we just overall did truly feel spoiled to be a guest there.  We ended up choosing to do the spa package, the professional photos, and romantic dinner with our resort credits.  Once again, thank you for everything.  We could not thank you more for an unforgettable experience.  All the best."

-Stephen and Kelly, Chicago IL - Mexico Honeymoon


Thailand Wedding & Honeymoon

Excerpts from client's excellent review - 

"Hi Deena.  Thank you for touching base!  The trip was amazing overall. The heat took some getting used to.  All that aside, it was great. 

Chiang Mai - we really loved the trips to ENP and while PEF is much more interactive, I had some concerns given they ride the elephants (although better with one adult bareback than 2-3 on a heavy iron seat). We liked that they gave us photos and look forward to seeing them once we get home. 

We also did a Thai Farm Cooking class which we loved, a trip to Doi Inthanon and spent part of a day roaming and checking out temples. Le Meridien is a beautiful hotel and in a convenient location but I think I was really surprised Chiang Mai would be such a big city. Not knowing alot about it, we expected it to be more rural. 

Bangkok - We went to Wat Poh but opted out of the Grand Palace given the heat and crazy crowds. The highlights for us was probably our dinner at Banyan Tree. We also went to Lebua but it was even more pricy and the ambiance at Banyan was much better. 

Koh Samui - we loved it! We were sooooooo happy to get to the beach. Anantara is stunning and we loved the night market / walking street. It was really cute. The only thing we found is they cleaned our room pretty late so they wanted to clean when we were getting back from our day trips. 

Khao Lak - we loved it and The Sarojin!!!! It was so calm and peaceful compared to everywhere else. Aside from the wedding, we just did one trip to snorkel at Surin Islands. This was fabulous. The resort was expensive but there were other spots to eat along the beach. The wedding and waterfall dinner along with our pool Villa was unreal. We were so happy with how it turned out. I've attached a few photos for you - we don't have professional ones yet.

Krabi - we enjoyed Rayavadee and Krabi.  We loved the assortment of monkeys. We saw some macaques really close after we did the viewpoint climb. I've attached a photo of one with a baby :-) 

We really just relaxed for a couple days then had our private boat from the hotel to PhiPhi, Maya Bay and Bamboo Island. This was an amazing day.  Maya Bay was amazing. The tide was going down as we arrived so almost all the boats had to leave. I can see how nuts it can be but we really lucked out. We also had a champagne sunset on Bamboo Island before returning back. 

All of the transfers were smooth. We only had to call one in Chiang Mai who wasn't there but JR had gotten a local SIM so it wasn't an issue.  We also really loved the Thai people. They are really sweet and soft spoken. They seem very protective of their environment so it's too bad a lot of tourists don't have this same respect. We are really glad we decided to go this route for our honeymoon and special day. It was the trip of a life time. 

Thank you for all of your help planning it! I know I had tons of questions along the way." 

-Serena S., Ontario, Canada - Thailand Wedding & Beach Honeymoon


Chile, Argentina, & Patagonia

"Deena, sorry for not getting back to you sooner.  Outside of a few minor bumps (Jenny's lost passport and contacts) the trip was terrific and everything we could have asked for.  It was truly a once in a lifetime trip and I speak for both of us in saying that we couldn't be happier with our choice of Chile as a honeymoon destination.  Each part of the trip was memorable in its own way and as you said, we'll have stories that we'll be telling people for the rest of our lives.

I'm still adjusting to not being in a South American summer climate and those late summer sunsets.  I'd say that out of the four locations we visited, Patagonia and Valparaiso were our favorites.  Patagonia is incredibly easy to love and probably the most picturesque area that we visited. Our cameras were put to very good work at all stops but Patagonia brought out our inner photographer most frequently.

We kayaked to a glacier (drinking cocktails with glacier ice), stood at the windiest point in the Torres del Paine Park (and almost flew away), hiked up to the base of the Towers (Jenny's favorite!!), almost got stampeded by some guanacos, saw the sun set at midnight, and were blown away by the unique scenery and landscape.  I was also impressed by how quickly the entire staff at Patagonia Camp calmed Jenny down and allowed us to enjoy the stay there and not worry too much about the passport issue.  The yurt we had in Patagonia Camp was terrific as well, the bed was incredibly comfortable, and we slept great down there. 

Valparaiso is a very cool city that is fun and full of great restaurants and neat little art shops.  I'm pretty sure that Jenny and I have been turned into seafood snobs thanks to the amazingly delicious and fresh fish that we had in every single part of Chile.  (I'm only half kidding; it will be tough to order fish in Chicago any time soon).

The Matetic Winery Tour with Lunch was excellent, very beautiful area with great food and wine.  I have to say that I'm not a big wine drinker but all of the wines that we had in Chile were terrific and I wish we could have brought back more than the 5 bottles we slipped through Customs.  Our last few days in Valparaiso were very relaxing and an excellent way to wrap up the honeymoon.

I don't want to short change our stay in the Atacama Desert because that was a terrific and unique experience but Patagonia is Patagonia, tough to top that.  The Tierra Atacama Resort was very nice and the staff was great.  They have a terrific place and the view of the mountains was amazing.  The only issues we had in the desert were the altitude and the insanely dry air and neither of them had anything to do with the resort or the staff.  The Atacama Desert was full of surprises and cool stuff to see like the Moon and Rainbow Valleys, the Salt Flats, lots of flamingos, vicunas (and their babies), hot springs, and geysers.  

It was 100% worth waking up at the crack of dawn for the geysers excursion.  We saw a ton of wildlife and even saw some newborn llamas.  My personal favorite was the stargazing just because of how clear the sky is and all of the stars and constellations that we'll never get to see in Chicago/the Northern Hemisphere.  The food everywhere was delicious.  We especially enjoyed having fresh bread and butter being served with nearly every meal.  The Pisco Sours were terrific at every stop, and I was personally impressed with the good beer selections as well.  All of the guides were very helpful and couldn't have been nicer.  Everyone we ran into was very open and friendly regardless of our lack of Spanish.

Thank you very much for all of your help and for putting together this incredible trip with us.  We definitely owe you dinner or a nice bottle of Chilean wine at some point in the future.  If you have any questions about things I left off this email, please don't hesitate to email me back and I'll answer them to the best of my abilities and memory.  Thanks again and talk to you soon."

-Dan & Jenny, Chicago, IL - Chile & Argentina Honeymoon


Thailand

Hi Deena, I hope all is well!   Thank you for checking in! We just got back last night and had the BEST time. Everything on our itinerary was executed flawlessly. We loved all of our activities and had so much fun - we especially loved the elephant home and the cooking class! Also, the drivers and guides were amazing - so helpful, always on time, and totally going above and beyond for us. 

We cannot thank you enough for your help. This was honestly the trip of a lifetime and we are so grateful for your assistance in making it so special!  Spencer and I are looking to book another trip and we just had to come back to you! We had such an amazing time in Thailand, we want to do it all over again in a new location.

Hope you and your family enjoy Thailand as much as we did!!

Spencer & Courtney Larkin, Chicago, IL - Thailand Adventures


Italy

"Italy is a treat for the eyes and stomach and soul.  There is much beauty to see and the cities are very different looking than here in the States, which is just plain FUN.  We did not run around to every tourist attraction and didn't feel that we needed to see everything!  We explored and got lost and ate when we wanted and rested in the afternoons and soaked up the experience.  We thoroughly enjoyed all three of our cooking classes and highly recommend them.  We found beautiful leather gloves at Madova, just on the far side of the Ponte Vecchio.  Also found lovely leather jackets in Piazza Santa Croce.  In Venice, we ate twice at both Osteria San Marco and Marciano Ristorante, which were close to our hotel and had delicious pasta and Osso Bucco.

The first thing we tell our friends and family about our trip?  That it was amazing and that Deena Gainor did our travel plans and if you go, you should have her plan for you!!  Really, that is what I say!  Then I tell them how delicious the food was and how much Caitlin and I loved everything we did.  Do I sound like a broken record?  Would I recommend Global Getaways to others?  YES, YES, YES, I already have."

-Janet & Caitlin, Naperville, IL - Italian Adventures


East African Safari & Seychelles

 "I would highly recommend you reach out to Deena and tell her what you're looking for.  She is awesome.  We flew into Nairobi then took a smaller plane out to Safari.  We did a few nights in Amboseli and saw tons of animals - mostly elephants, giraffe, lions, zebra, etc. We also went to a local village one day to see how the locals live.

After that, we took another small plane down to Masai Mara and saw more amazing animals including all of the above plus hippos, leopards, water buffalo, rhino, etc.  This was another amazing place with an amazing lodge.  The food was unbelievable and the people were so nice.  They really took amazing care of you, and our travel agent had it set up so that we didn't have to worry about a thing. We also did a sunrise hot air balloon ride which was amazing.  We landed in the bush where we then had a champagne breakfast.

After a few days here, we went back to Nairobi where we then flew out to Seychelles, and stayed at the Four Seasons….WOW this place was so unbelievable.  Unlike anything I've ever seen.  Very expensive, but very worth it.  Everyone has private villas that are built in the mountainside with stunning views of the ocean.  Each place also has it's own private infinity pool.  You get around here with golf carts and the customer service is amazing.  I'm happy to chat more, as I could go on and on with the details.  Let me know if you need any other information or want to chat further.  Have fun planning!"

Andrea, Chicago, IL - East African Safari & Seychelles Honeymoon


St. Lucia

Hi Deena, Thank you! Our wedding was wonderful and so was the honeymoon in St. Lucia. The Sandals Grande resort was nice.  A few comments below that might help you guide further clients:

  • Weather ended up being perfect all week long! 80-85 and sunny.

  • Room itself was more beachy than modern

  • Service was 7 out of 10. The staff was very welcoming when we got there. Additionally, with out butler service, guests are not served drinks by the pool. All guests had to get their own drinks/food from the bar.

  • Lots of honeymooners ages 25-35

  • Gorgeous views of the island

  • Dinners were good. It was nice that we got to take the complimentary shuttle to the other Sandals resorts to try their restaurants for dinner

  • Lunch food was just okay (limited menu options got old after a few days)

  • The private car to and from the airport was nice due to the 1.5 hr drive

Hopefully the above feedback helps. Overall, it was a wonderful vacation and we recommend the resort to young newlyweds like us! Attached please find some pictures. Feel free to use them and my feedback on your blog.  Thanks!

Liza & Jacob Wilson, Chicago, IL - St. Lucia Sandals Honeymoon


Kenyan Safari & Seychelles

"Thanks, Deena!  We had an amazing time (on Safari in Kenya and at the Four Seasons in the Seychelles).  We didn't have to worry once about where to be or who was picking us up.  It was wonderful and we can't thank you enough!"

- Zack, Chicago, IL - Kenya Safari & Seychelles Honeymoon


Charleston, South Carolina

"Hello Deena. I wanted to let you know we have finally arrived to the hotel and want to thank you so much for the very nice amenity.  You are so wonderful!  Just wanted to thank you again. We absolutely love this place!  Charleston is so charming and quaint I feel like I am in France, so many details everywhere!  Amazing food and people. Just a little cold these days but tomorrow should be a bit warmer, then again I know how bad it is in Chicago!  Cant wait to tell you more when i see you.  Ciao Ciao."

- Chef and Esther Roby, Geneva, IL - Charleston, South Carolina


Caribbean and Mexico

"Deena is the only travel agent I will call for my travel arrangements.  She is someone I can trust with all my travel, and is always trying to find the best prices on travel for our family.  Deena is very personable and at all times is working for the best interest of her clients."

- Leslie Holtzclaw, Greater Los Angeles area - Caribbean & Cancun


Italy

Hi Deena. I’d like to thank you for your help and to let you know Becky and I had a GREAT trip. We spent 5 days in Rome, 2 days in Siena, and a day in Trivoli. Then our time with the kids in the Sorrento area. Our Marble house was beautiful and we enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it. We had a lot of fun and happy memory’s there.

Thanks again.
— Bill, Harrisburg, PA - An Italian Villa in Sorrento, Italy

Caribbean Cruise

Hi Deena. We had a wonderful cruise! Thanks for all you did to make it possible. The bus ride to NYC was a bit of an adventure since the route the bus company had “rerouted” had to be rerouted again when we got to our exit and discovered it was CLOSED! We arrived in NYC at 2pm instead of noon, but still in plenty of time to get on board. The Noordam was fantastic. Pretty much the same ship as the Zuiderdam, but even nicer. A bit more updated. The rooms all had DVD/CD players as well as the TV’s. (We didn’t bring any CD’s since they didn’t last year! Our balcony room was fantastic. The gym was awesome. Brand new, state-of-the-art equipment. Very nice. We both worked out there every day. (I think Julie may have gained about one pound on the whole cruise. I gained closer to 5, but have already lost some of that after two vigorous gym workouts since being home.)

We were both pleasantly surprised at how healthily you can eat on a cruise, if that’s what you’re looking for. Of course, they had an incredible assortment of fruits/veggies, but we didn’t remember that they also had available no-sugar added ice cream, no-sugar added desserts and a host of other foods for those trying to watch their weight. That was remarkable to us.

We had a great time getting to know the other four couples at our evening dining table. Three couples were from Staten Island...all friends. This cruise was #89 for one of those couples! The other three couples had all been on at least 40-50 cruises! Amazing... Holland America certainly does a fantastic job providing an exceptional cruise experience and we’d highly recommend it to others! The beds on Holland America are absolutely amazingly comfortable! Everyone was talking about how nice the mattresses were and what a great night’s sleep they got on them!

The fine dining was at least as good as last year, if not better. We still marvel at the overall value of cruising when one considers the exquisite food and service and the quality of the entertainment. I must run, but thanks again, Deena, for your help in making this cruise possible. It’ll probably be a while before we’ll be able to do another cruise, but you’ll be the first to know when we’re ready!
— David, Mechanicsburg, PA - Caribbean Cruise/Holland America ms. Noordam and ms. Zuiderdam

Las Vegas

Hey Deena,
Thanks for your card! We have been so thrilled with your service…I’ve been bragging to everyone (Kevin, of course, is bragging about the guy with the name card at the airport)!! Thanks for your restaurant suggestions, they are VERY helpful. 
Let me know if there is anything else you need from us. Again, thank you SO much for all your help!! 

Thanks!!
Take Care!
— Kristen, Mt. Orab, OH - Bellagio Las Vegas Penthouse Suite

Hawaii

Deena! Everything went great! We had a fantastic and memorable time. We know how all of this works and everything you did to make it special. Thanks for all your efforts!!
— Ron, San Diego, CA - Four Seasons Maui, Hawaii

Mexico

Hey Deena, I'm up early so I thought I'd send this to you now, since it's all fresh in my head.

Beach - beautiful, gorgeous and the water looked amazing!  The water was warm and very refreshing.  Service was great!  We loved the cabanas.  We enjoyed our time at the beach greatly!!

Pools -  Thursday we went to the smaller quiet pool which was shaded.  Very relaxing over there.  Not the partying going on like the main pool.  People were sleeping in the chairs all afternoon.  It was great!  The big pool was fun.  Lots to participate in, people bringing you fruit in water, fun to jump between warm, hot & cool water.  

Room - Suite 308 was Fantastic! Beautiful view as you saw.  Towel animals at turn down were cool. Swans & doves kissing.  Mini bar was awesome and was included!  Laundry basket, nice touch.  Shower, roomy.  Whirlpool tub, HUGE!  Plenty of space to move around.  

Spa - Haircut was great!   It was hard to communicate but I eventually got what I wanted and it was EXACTLY what I wanted, which was fabulous.

Concierge - When we checked in, we had 100 questions and Matthieau was great at answering them.  He took his time and armed us with great information.  He warned us to only pay in Pesos when shopping on the street.  I wish he would have also warned us that the street sellers see the wristbands, and will try to get you to believe they work at the hotel, then get you to buy something from their Mother's, or brother's shop.  It's a scam, so I'm giving you warning.  Don't fall for it!  About 5 people approached us that way.

Romance Concierge - We purchased a Romantic Evening Package.  We really wanted the strawberries & sparkling grape juice.  The rest was icing and the cost was very inexpensive.  I loved the rose petals everywhere and the whirlpool being filled for us.  The strawberries were fantastic too!

Olympus - They definitely had orange shirts on and were easy to find.  They took us where we needed to go and were very friendly. 

Food - Room service was great!  They call when your food is delivered which is a bit annoying, but it was fast & good.

The restaurants were great!  We had some very interesting foods & enjoyed most of them.  We loved that we could customize our orders.  We also loved that we could try new things risk free.  Just order something else if we don't like it.

Overall, we knew we were on a budget & that this was NOT the Bellagio going in.  We got the relaxation and quiet time we wanted and we enjoyed our stay here.  The location was perfect and the view spectacular.  It was what we expected and we really like the all inclusive thing!  We loved not having to tally expenses.  We also loved the food!

- Kristen, Dayton, OH - The Royal Playa del Carmen, Mexico


China, Caribbean, & Paris

Deena is a pleasure to work with and a wonderful travel agent. She checks what we like to do on vacation and puts together several great options that we can choose from. The first time she helped us, she got us an amazing deal for an outdoor balcony cabin on one of the better cruise ships.

Her recommendations are always valuable and we’ve never had to worry about anything when she books us. Any time we plan a trip, we’ll always book with her.

Thanks so much for your help, Deena!!
— Anne Abraham, Raleigh-Durham, NC - China, Caribbean, Paris/Christmas Market

Mexico

Thanks, Deena for the homecoming message. We had a really nice time and the weather was perfect! I hope you had a good week and I will definitely call when I want to travel again, Deena. Thank you so much for everything!
— Sue, Westport, CT - Fiesta Americana Condesa, Cancun

Jamaica

Deena, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

We had such a wonderfully relaxing time in Jamaica. We so appreciate all you did to make our anniversary so memorable.

I don’t have the time right now to give you all of the details of the trip…but the one thing I can say (on behalf of the both of us) Dunn’s River was a perfect choice for us…THANK YOU!!! Talk to you soon.
— Brian, Denver, CO - Sandals Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Aruba

Thanks, Deena. I can’t imagine any thing better than our time in Aruba at the Bucuti. They really spoiled us. Everyone was so friendly and nice to us. The service was wonderful. The room was spectacular. We were on the 3rd floor and I think we may have seen one other couple on our floor, so very quiet, didn’t hear anything from any other rooms the whole time we were there—that was so nice. The view was just wonderful—a tropical paradise, truly.

Our full breakfast was great too - meats, cheeses, pastries, fresh fruit, 10 coffees and 10 teas to choose from, juices, cereal, yogurts, fruit cup. I had something different every morning and we ate at the restaurant outside, so we could see the beach as we ate. Dan and I ate there for an evening meal too. Very nice and to eat right there on the beach! I know Lee and Lisa said they really enjoyed it so much. So nice to be spoiled after living in a 3rd world country!

Mostly to go to town we took the taxi - $8 to downtown Oranjestad and $8 to the high rise section. There was plenty of shopping. Actually, Lisa and I took the bus downtown to shop. That was fun. We got to eat some of the local food that day too. We did rent a 4 wheel drive car one day and drove around the island. Well, we got almost all the way around. That was great because we were able to stop and snorkel as often as we wanted and for however long we wanted. I think we would have missed so much if we didn’t snorkel/dive there! It’s like another world down there. We put sunscreen on constantly as hats were a no go - it’s was windy that day. They have a great pool there. They had to cancel one of the dives because a strong wind came up one afternoon, so Dan was disappointed, but then the next AM we went up north of the high rise area and got in more snorkeling. That was the morning that we left.

As far as the food goes, there are even Subway, Wendy’s, and Pizza Hut, etc. if you want to eat cheap American fast food. The hotel suggests lots of expensive restaurants, but you can find places more reasonable. You just have to ask the locals!

It was so nice to be able to stay right on the beach. The sunsets were amazing. God is so good to us. We were really refreshed by the trip and enjoyed it so much. 6 nights was great. We didn’t feel rushed to “get it all in”. Some days we planned out, but some we just did whatever. I’m sure we enjoyed it more because we were with good friends! Once again, thanks for your part in getting us there and back.
— Karen, Strasburg, PA - Bucuti Beach Resort, Aruba

Las Vegas, New York, & New Orleans

I have relied on Deena to help me put together three anniversary trips. Usually, it’s a place I’ve never been, don’t know much about, and don’t have time to figure out the best places to stay, etc. I give her certain parameters to follow and she always comes in matching or exceeding my expectations for the price.

Once I had an issue with a hotel and she personally called them, while we were there, to complain. We were well taken care of after that.

Deena goes the extra mile, works well with picky people, and is great at helping you create the experience you want to get from any trip. I highly recommend Deena and I know I’ll rely on her again.
— Kristen Beireis, OH - Las Vegas, New York, & New Orleans