Kind Words From Clients

Group of people in Peru

A travel planner...now a friend!

I have gone on so many trips with Elaine/Valise that I've lost count. The Azores, Peru, Morocco, Italy, Portugal, Australia...Each trip has been fantastic and as soon as I get home I start thinking about where we'll go next. She does an amazing job finding the most interesting people, lodging, restaurants, and cultural immersion opportunities; we laugh, we learn, we fall in love with the world. More importantly, Elaine went from an unknown travel agent I found on the Web (really!) to someone I now call a friend.

- Stephanie R.

The Azores Islands, Portugal

Thank you Elaine for a great week in the Azores! From yoga, to hiking, biking, and rappelling, there was no shortage of interesting ways to stay active and explore the landscape Your fun and welcoming personality, your organizational skills, your introduction to local people and the best guide ever, Jose, and your encouragement and support for not just me but the entire group of outstanding women you assembled, all made this a trip I will never forget.

- Sarah M.

Group of people in the Azores
Greece Paros Island

Honeymoon in Greece

We just want to thank you again for planning our honeymoon in Greece. The trip was amazing from start to finish. Everything was seamless, from the hotels to the restaurant recommendations, the boat tour, cooking class, and wine tour - it made for a truly amazing and stress free vacation.

Thank you so much! We will definitely be reaching out again for our next big trip (Vietnam?) and will always recommend you to friends & family. We really can’t say enough good things or thank you enough!

- Lou and Julie J.

Thank you for planning our trip to Italy!

Elaine, our trip was incredible!  The guides, drivers and chef were amazing, pleasant, knowledgeable, kind and fun!  The pacing of the trip was perfect.  There is no way we would have been able to have this type of an experience on our own.  I felt like we were given the gift of seeing the Amalfi Coast with people who live there. We learned so much just from chatting with all of them about their lives and experiences.  The cooking class and meeting Mario and the owners/partners was amazing, I would have never thought to do that and it was definitely a highlight.  Giovanni was just a dream, he was so interesting and personable, could talk about the native plants we were seeing, the history of the area and definitely paced the hike to our level. Stopping at Herculaneum on the way to Praiano was another brilliant idea on your part. Our guide was fantastic and the archaeological site was fascinating. I can't thank you enough. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime for us.

- Kelly G. and Kurt H.

Water in Italy
People on camels

Morocco

I had a fabulous time in Morocco with a very special group of travelers. Truly a trip of a lifetime. Accommodations were amazing and the guides were excellent. The desert camping was a highlight for me - an inspired and excellent surprise! I also really appreciated the opportunity to visit with a Berber family in the Atlas Mountains. Thank you for opening my eyes to such a beautiful culture and country.

- Shannon B.

My First Trip to Europe and it Changed my Life!

Elaine, you made this trip to Italy an incredibly special experience for me!  Never having traveled to Europe, I was nervous, but your professional expertise and the like-minded people in our small group gave me confidence. I knew that you would choose the best activities, restaurants, etc., making my experience better than anything I could have ever planned myself.

Now that I am home, I'm realizing even more the impact that the trip has had on me. I have gained more confidence simply from leaving the security of my normal routine and my usual spring break trip, to travel abroad! Believe it or not, traveling so far away can be quite scary. I now feel the courage to travel more internationally! Another impact of the trip is that I now understand that doing something entirely for myself can be beneficial to my wellbeing. Getting away from work and family, and immersing myself in such a distant place has given me a sense of inner peace and happiness. This definitely encourages me to want to do more "me things" that are on my wish list.

Thanks so much, Elaine, for leading our little pack of adventure seekers on this amazing journey through the Amalfi Coast. I would love to go on another adventure with you!

- Catherine P.

Women on a boat in Italy