VIP Vacations Inc.

Favorite Drink: “Whatever the locals are drinking.”

Favorite Song: Justin Timberlake “Can’t Stop the Feeling”

Favorite Location: Savannah, Georgia

As a little girl I got so excited the night before a trip that I couldn’t sleep. I’m still that way. I start packing months before and wake at dawn on departure day.  My goal is to help you plan a vacation that will keep you up at night with excitement.

My travels began with family road trips. There were multicar caravans to the Jersey shore, trips to visit family in Florida or to hike in Maine, and fishing trips in Canada. It was during these trips that I fell in love with the water. Playing in the surf with my sisters, fishing with my Dad, or canoeing in the fog at dawn.  I still love the water – preferably so clear that I can see my toes in the sand while wading to the tiki bar (think Grand Cayman!).  I also enjoy the view of the sea from the deck of a cruise ship, be it the sun-kissed waters of the Caribbean or the glacial runoff near the Alaskan coast.  Do you want to take a cruise (maybe one with a disco party on the deck of the Love Boat) or find a sunny all-inclusive island resort for a destination wedding – I’m here to help you.

Do you love animals and nature?  I can help you plan a walking vacation.  I’ve seen brightly colored birds while hiking lush tropical paths along the volcanic slopes of Kauai, Hawaii; shared a path with a snake (OK I may have screamed once) while investigating the ancient ruins of the Acropolis in Greece; raced lizards up the steep ascents to the Path of Gods along Italy’s Amalfi Coast; side-stepped long haired cattle while hiking Scotland’s West Highland Way; and stopped to sun myself with some beautiful cats on the warm stones along the walls of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Next year I’ll be hanging with the sheep on the Dingle peninsula in Ireland. Want to join me?

While I’ve had wonderful meals in restaurants around the world, my best culinary memories come with fewer Michelin stars.  I shared a delightful carafe of wine with a friend in an elegant Parisian café only to be amazed to see the source was a cardboard box behind the bar.  I fondly recall a massive plate of sausages and potatoes, served with a liter of unfiltered Pilsner Urquell lager, at the brewery in Plzen, Czech Republic.  In Prague, we tried a bottle of their local wine – tip #1, there is a reason Czechs consume more beer per capita than folks in any other country.  Need a recommendation for where to get a pizza in Naples (best I ever had)?  Trying to find some genuine buffalo mozzarella in Campania?  Trust me, I won’t steer you wrong.

I prefer to stay in B&Bs whenever possible – the best ones have a quirky owner who treats you like a long lost cousin.  Allow me to introduce you to Manuel, who’s guest house in the Cinque Terra region is near the top of my list (he’ll help you carry your suitcase up the steep steps!).  Or perhaps you would rather stay with Peggy in Salerno.  Ask her to call ahead for you for an unforgettable seafood meal at her neighbor’s tiny restaurant.  When you return she may be waiting for you with a glass of limoncello and an evening of delightful conversation on her rooftop patio.

And sometimes I just want to do classic tourist things – but without the lines.  I can help speed your entry to see David in Florence, the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, or Gaudi’s Sand Castle (Sagrada Familia) in Barcelona.  Or I can suggest less hectic activities like viewing Monet’s water lilies from dawn to dusk at the Musee de l’Orangerie in Paris, spending a day in Sienna as an escape from Florence, or watching the changing of the guards (featuring Batisse the royal goat) in Quebec.

I’ll close with a quote from, Dr. Seuss: “Sometimes You Will Never Know The Value Of A Moment Until It Becomes Memory.”   I want to get to know you so that we can work together to plan a trip (or a series of trips) that are filled with memorable moments.