Travel Darlings

We had the pleasure to work with Irene for our 2nd international travel needs, this time to Thailand. Thailand has been on our "bucket list" and being invited to a Thai wedding provided the incentive to make Thailand our next international destination. From the moment we contacted Irene, we knew were would be in good hands (was there any doubt?)! After providing responses to Irene's questionnaire regarding our interests and desires about Thailand (along with several emails, text messages, and phone conversations), she provided an excellent itinerary that included flights, private tours, private drivers to and from airports, superb accommodations, and expert guides. During our 5 nights in Bangkok, Irene curated a centrally located hotel in Bangkok, an informal food tour in Chinatown, and an exceptionally knowledgeable local guide to introduce us to the some of the most historically important temples in Bangkok and Ayutthaya. During our first 4 nights in Chiang Mai, Irene curated a modern-styled hotel minutes away from the legendary Night Market (a must experience). We had the pleasure of touring Chiang Mai and the hills of Doi Inthanon National Park with an experienced and friendly local guide. There is no substitute to having a local guide to provide insights and knowledge about Thai culture, food, and history. Additionally, Irene had arranged a private cooking class where we prepared 7 Northern Thailand dishes, all delicious!! Our last 3 nights were spent at the Onsen at Moncham, a Japanese-themed retreat in the mountains before returning home. Although Irene provided many options for our destinations/events and hotels, our itinerary was completely customizable and ultimately, our choice. Whether you want to experience Thailand on the beaten or unbeaten path, but with comfort, reliability, and service, let Irene at Travel Darlings handle your needs!

After a relatively last minute idea to spend the holidays in Italy, I came across Travel Darlings after a quick search on Yelp. All the reviews were stellar, so I decided to get in touch with Irene. I'm glad I did. I always thought a travel agent, due to my limited travel experience, merely booked flights and hotels. Not so with Travel Darlings. Irene is a curator of experiences. She arranged not only the basics, but made fantastic restaurant reservations for us, booked train tickets, provided essential travel advice, and organized activities based on our specific interests. She arranged top notch local private guides to navigate us through museums and historical sights which was so appreciated given our newbie European traveler status. Leading up to the trip, I was very appreciative of (and quite impressed by) how available and receptive she was in terms of questions, concerns, etc. She responded to texts/emails promptly and made sure there was no stone left unturned regarding our preparation. Even as we were abroad, we kept in touch via WhatsApp. Upon checking into our hotel in Rome, we found a note from her on the nightstand wishing us a wonderful time. I can't remember the last time I received that level of care and personal service from a business. Travel Darlings goes the extra mile and with a unique, personal touch. Thank you, Irene!

We worked with Travel Darlings to plan a three-week trip to Southeast Asia to celebrate a milestone occasion. Our goal was to have an epic vacation and Irene totally delivered. From living in luxury to going local with highly-vetted guides, there was no need for us to do the usual research, planning and managing details. Knowing we could count on Irene's arrangements and recommendations, we were able to fully relax, enjoy and go in style. All in all, a once in a lifetime experience.

Do you wish to experience life as art? Do you want a magical stage upon which you may step into your dreams? Irene has given this to me six times. I have played a song written four thousand years ago on ancient instruments in Heraklion. I have sailed the same waters as Odysseus. I have touched the Pyramids of Giza and travelled back into time experiencing ancient Egypt, and sailed on the Nile. I have climbed the mountains of Lake Como and touched the sky. I have swum in secret swimming coves in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. I have gazed upon the face of Medusa in the cistern of Istanbul, and survived to tell the tale. I have been to one paradise after another in Elounda, Hurghada, and Bodrum. I have made meals with families and chefs, and dined on ambrosia and in palaces. Irene won't just take you places, she will open your eyes to the wonder of this world, lift your spirits, and show you how to fly. This is why I go to Irene when my life needs elevation. She has taken me to Crete, Athens, Delphi, Milan, Belagio, Venice, Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, Saint Petersburg, Istanbul, and Bodrum. And now, she is helping me deliver magic to my daughter and her fiancé, as it is only Irene that I trust to create for the one most precious to me. Whatever your dreams, bring them to Irene, and step through the door she summons.

An amazing family experience in London/Paris, courtesy of Travel Darlings My family of 15 decided to travel to London and Paris this summer. In February, I reached out to Irene at Travel Darlings via Yelp. After reading each and every glowing review, I decided to set up an introductory call. Our first call confirmed that the reviews were accurate and that I should start working with Irene. I could tell right away that she had first hand experience in London and Paris and that she was up for the task of planning our big trip. Because we had such a large group with multiple generations and interests, we needed an expert hand to guide us. We also wanted to find a travel agency that could deliver personalized attention for our group. We've used other large luxury travel agencies in the past, for example, and felt their approach was too cookie cutter. Travel Darlings is a smaller company and because of that, was in a better position to create a highly tailored vacation for our family. Irene went above and beyond during our planning process, helping us put together a spectacular experience. She took care of every detail of our trip. She put us in a hotel in London that now sets our benchmark for what a luxury hotel should be. When we arrived, there were welcome gifts and notes from Irene and the hotel GM. The staff knew us by name and joined us for welcome drinks in their private library/bar. We had a similar experience at our hotel in Paris. When we arrived there, we were greeted by the head of guest experience with champagne and gifts in our room. Irene found expert guides for our visits to important sites in both London and Paris. These guides were highly educated (e.g. masters degrees in Art History). She was able to match our interests and needs (with young children) to guides who were knowledgeable and entertaining. In almost every case, we had "skip the line" concierge service when visiting important sites. One highlight in London was visiting the Churchill War Rooms. Also in London, Irene arranged a walking tour and then a Sunday Roast experience that was memorable, and something we would not have thought about planning for ourselves. She has in-person relationships with the hotels we stayed in, several restaurants and all of the guides in London and Paris. This meant that our family was treated with extra care and attention along the way. Our main family reunion was for 12 nights in London and Paris. Irene also helped plan complete 3 separate extended side trips for different family members in Amsterdam, Madrid, Biarritz, Lisbon and Normandy. And she placed the same high level of care and attention, along with knowledge of the best hotels and restaurants to suit our preferences for these side trips. All along the way, Irene was available for questions and checked in with us over a group Whatsapp chat frequently. We truly felt that Irene was invested in making our trip a success, like she was a member of our family. In fact, we were so appreciative of her work for us, that we invited her to join us for a private dinner experience in London. We are so glad that we got to meet her in person. Overall, our summer trip to Europe with Travel Darlings was very memorable. Irene's meticulous planning, attention to detail, care, and personalized touch made it an extraordinary experience. We truly felt that Irene was invested in making our trip a success, like she was a member of our family. We recommend Travel Darlings and will work with them again.