Tell us about you and your company: what you do, what part of the world/type of travel do you specialize in, and how did you get into this line of work?
I’m a private client travel advisor based in the Hudson Valley, New York. I send clients all over the world, but my specialty is creating hyper-customized itineraries to “far-flung international” destinations.
The travel bug came early for me. With parents from San Francisco and Sydney, I grew up flying back and forth across the Pacific, marveling at how big the world was and keeping an eye out for the odd speck of land en route. Some of my earliest and fondest memories are of staring out a plane window, and a window seat is one of my happy places to this day.
I pivoted into travel in 2019, after nearly two decades in fashion merchandising and retail for brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Burberry (also Barneys New York, RIP). Buying trips to Paris, London, Rome and Florence put me alongside counterparts from Tokyo, Shanghai, and across Europe, and opened my eyes to how differently people around the world live, shop, and travel.
When I launched my business, people laughed—to my face. “Travel agents still exist?!” Fast forward to today and the market is saturated with tens of thousands of brand-new, next-gen agents, right as we’ve hit peak social media overload. The result? Too much information to sift through. Most new clients find me for exactly that reason: they used to feel empowered by all the information available to them, and now they just feel overwhelmed.
That’s really the value I offer: not just access to information, but a filter for it. I know which properties are worth the hype and which are coasting on reputation, and I know the people who run these hotels and tour operators personally, so my clients are never just another booking. Think of me as a wealth portfolio manager, but for your travels. After all, what’s the saying? “Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.” I very much believe that.
What’s the entry level to talk to you?
Itinerary design fees for new clients start at $1,800. Charging a fee means the only thing I’m optimizing for is your trip. It also gives me the time each itinerary deserves, and I work best with clients who value that time too.
What is the sweet spot of your expertise?
You know how Slim Aarons’s whole thing was photographing “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places”? My passion is working with interesting people, who like to do interesting things in interesting places.
I specialize in many of the destinations that I love the most and know the best: Australia and New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Japan and Asia more generally (I’m going to China for the first time in April!). Also Europe (heavy on Italy and France) and Northern Africa, specifically Morocco and Egypt. I can also plan a mean safari itinerary if I do say so myself.
My clients tend to be people who have already done the obvious versions of travel and want more texture. I work with both large families and couples and have clients based around the world, not just in the US.
Most of my clients never worked with an agent before connecting with me and have done a fair amount of traveling on their own. Sure, you can DIY your travels online. You can also DIY your taxes online, but at some point you probably stopped and realized you needed the professional help that an accountant can provide. The same thing goes for travel, especially when we’re talking far-flung international destinations like Australia or Indonesia. People don’t want to roll the dice on a once in a lifetime trip.
A couple of favorite trips/itineraries you’ve planned that best represent your philosophy…
I believe in slowing down a bit, and I often talk people out of that one extra stop that is going to make an itinerary’s pace frenetic. I believe that anywhere worth visiting is worth staying for at least three nights. That’s just two full days, after all. I believe in itineraries with down time, and I almost always leave wiggle room for spontaneity.
I love a high-stakes itinerary. Think honeymoons, multi-generational trips, milestone birthdays, or anything “once in a lifetime.” For a three-week Japan honeymoon, I arranged an English-speaking guide for a sumo tournament instead of just tickets, a tea ceremony with cultural curator Junko in Kyoto for the stylish bride, and a day diving with the Ama, Japan’s legendary female free-divers. I also work with the most dialed-in shopping guide in Tokyo.
I like to make personal Google Maps for clients, filled with the places I think they will enjoy, not just the ones I love, and definitely not the ones with a line out front. Even my city recommendations are hyper-customized!
For a Brooklyn-based family who had been to Italy several times before, I worked with Betty Soldi to dream up a really cool morning in Florence. They started with a Rothko exhibition visit, followed by a custom “Inksperience” at Betty’s studio that drew upon what they’d seen. In nearly every itinerary I plan there is an element that is unique to the people I’m planning it for.
I’d been frustrated by what some companies charge for Egypt, so for one client I built the itinerary from scratch, using my network of contacts on the ground. They wound up choosing a Historia Nile cruise over the more traditional dahabiya I would have picked, but as I learned in merchandising, just because I’d buy the more out-there faux fur coat for myself doesn’t mean it’s a best seller. You have to know your customer.
Favorite hotels/lodges/houses in the world you love and go back to again and again…
Part of the job is experiencing as many different properties as possible, so true repeats are a rarer indulgence than you’d think.
My Italy repeats are Rhinoceros Roma, Londra Palace Venezia, and post-renovation Four Seasons Milano—proof that I don’t always default to boutique if there’s a superior alternative.
Other favorites are Villa la Coste, Capella Ubud, Bulgari Tokyo, Villa Igiea in Palermo, WildLand’s Aldourie Castle.
A few not-to-be-missed favorite experiences that you would guide travelers to…
I know I’m biased, but there is so much to see and do in Australia that you won’t find anywhere else on earth. Head to the Top End for Kakadu’s ancient rock art and wetlands, or the Kimberley’s towering gorges and waterfalls, best seen by expedition cruise or helicopter. In Queensland, the Daintree is one of the oldest rainforests on earth, and it meets the Great Barrier Reef at the shoreline. Escape to Lord Howe Island, a World Heritage-listed speck in the Pacific with visitor numbers capped at about 400. At dusk on Phillip Island, not far from Melbourne, watch the little penguins waddle in from the sea after a day of fishing. It’s quintessentially Australian and impossible not to love.
For sheer wild remoteness, though, nothing beats Raja Ampat. The water is in shades of blue you didn’t know existed, above some of the most biodiverse reefs left on the planet. On a live-aboard, you wake each morning in a different anchorage with no one else in sight. Swimming with blacktip sharks there is one of the more memorable experiences I’ve had. Rascal Voyages really nails this experience. Expect to shed a few tears at departure, because the crew will feel like family by the end.
The most memorable meal(s) you’ve had while traveling…
I’m not really a foodie and prefer great, fresh ingredients over a Michelin-starred multi-course experience. My most memorable meals tend to center around the moment and the food, like a lunch with my dad at Giaconda Scott’s Moudira Farm Kitchen in Luxor on a recent trip to Egypt celebrating his 80th birthday.
I do love breakfast at a fancy Parisian hotel: a perfect fluffy omelet and warm, buttery croissants. The most revelatory was at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, where they employ a “fruitier” (his job is literally fruit!), which I learned after gushing over the most gorgeous plate of nectarines and berries.
I love eating in Japan, where restaurants seem to have one specialty (tempura, gyoza, udon, sushi) and do that one thing to perfection. Spicy noodles in broth almost anywhere in Vietnam rock my world, too. Next to the Ben Thanh Market in Ho Chi Minh City is a woman with a big vat of broth, ladled into generous bowls and topped with cool, crispy herbs. That sort of thing is very much my speed.
Underrated location, overrated location, personal favorite, recent discovery?
Underrated: Australia! It’s my hardest sell. Many people worry about how long the journey takes, which is puzzling when, from the US West Coast, Australia is barely farther than parts of Europe. From the East Coast it’s far, there’s no way around that, but it will also be one of the best travel experiences of your life. And if I had a penny for every time I was asked about snakes, spiders, or sharks… that is not what Australia should be known for and no, you don’t have to worry about them.
Overrated is really a matter of personal preference, but generally speaking I think Mediterranean summer hotspots are overrated in peak season. My idea of torture is getting dressed up to go somewhere with sparklers in Champagne bottles and dancing on the tables. That said, I have clients who love a good peak-season beach club, and if that’s your idea of a good time, you do you, I say.
Personal favorite: Egypt is nothing short of epic. I love Cairo. Aforementioned Raja Ampat is up there!
Recent discovery: the Scottish Highlands and WildLand, including Aldourie Castle and the brand-new Hope Lodge. If you’ve only been to Edinburgh you haven’t really seen Scotland.
The hardest-working item you always pack…
An oversize cashmere wrap that does triple duty as blanket, scarf, and emergency layer. Mine is a Louis Vuitton seasonal style from forever ago in a dégradé colorway, so it kind of goes with everything. I found a similar style here. Plus my Bose noise cancelling headphones, if I’m allowed a second item.
Favorite airline/airport/lounge/duty free…
My favorite airport for sheer quality is Singapore Changi, but I have some sentimental favorites too. Honolulu takes me back to being a kid, and it smells like vacation. I also love a charming regional airport with zero jet bridges—just a staircase, a few steps to the terminal, and one rickety baggage claim carousel.
Paris-CDG is a genuine pain, but it’s also where I stock up on my favorite French beauty products and Diptyque candles. The luxury brand boutiques carry seasonal collections and more interesting colorways than just the basics, which makes it the airport where I do the most damage.
When booking for myself (or my clients), I always consider the aircraft, not just the airline. I seek out newer wide-bodies like the A350, A380, or 787 whenever possible, since their lower cabin altitude and quieter cabins make a real difference on long flights. Most people never think to check this before booking.
Once you’ve flown Emirates, Etihad, or my personal favorite, Singapore Airlines, you realize how low the bar has been set, especially in the US. Flying domestic is literally a pride-swallowing experience. Last year I flew nonstop Singapore to New York, currently the longest commercial flight in the world at 18.5 hours. Honestly, it was strange but not at all awful. The plane itself was purpose-built for this route, with a two-class cabin and no economy seats. The service is impeccable and the food is genuinely good. Air New Zealand is another airline I rate highly. They’re constantly innovating.
What is something you wished we all knew or were better at as travelers?
Put your phone down! There was a time not long ago when we traveled without digital maps in our pockets, relying on word of mouth from people we met along the way, and travel was richer and more nuanced for it. It makes me sad to see so many faces stuck in screens, missing what’s right in front of them. Try leaving yours behind once in a while. On a recent trip to Turks and Caicos, I went for a beach walk sans-mobile and found a perfect, fully intact sand dollar. Magical.
From a practical perspective, I strongly recommend customs greeters and luggage concierge services during peak travel months. I can have someone meet you directly off the plane and whisk you through the customs line, or pre-ship your luggage to your final destination. Imagine never waiting at baggage claim again. Shipping ski or golf equipment ahead of time is clutch, and less expensive than you might think.
How do you want people to reach out to you?
My website has a contact form here.
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