I have never posted a review on Yelp before (negative/positive) and probably won't post another…read more However, my experience here was so demeaning, that I felt the need to reach more people. What was suppose to be an exciting upcoming trip to Belize (which this office "specializes" in), my wife and I Googled travel agencies nearby to get more information. We're not experts, so we wanted to consult someone who does this all day. This company HAD great reviews, so why not? My first call to Sue Doyle was our first time brainstorming the trip. We wanted to visit several countries due to the close proximity and I requested more information on how to do it. When I got the quote, everything looked great until I started scrolling down and reading through Sue Doyle and her partner Sue Castillo's correspondence... OOPS! They belittled us for wanting to visit other locations and completely humiliated us over email. I returned her voicemail by asking her to review the same document as I was. "Okay. Stupid way to do it, but the client is always right, right?" **crickets** If this was in any way our fault, I wouldn't be wasting my time writing this review. This is how they perceive and treat their customers without their knowledge. I refuse to do business with a wolf in sheep's clothing. And for what seems to be a dying industry, this didn't do them any favors.

All of my best vacations were booked by Sue Doyle at Mill Ave Travel, now Your Travel Center. The…read morefirst trip was to Hawaii with my family and everything was perfect, Sue has a knack for picking hotels and booking tours. My children and I traveled to Rome and stayed in a hotel close to the Opera house that was perfect for me an two teenagers. One of the best things about booking with Sue is that if I ever have trouble while on a trip, she is there to help me. Expedia, other online booking sites and the airlines are nowhere to be found if you have a problem while on your trip. I had to get home quickly from Nairobi when I had problems with my business here in Phoenix, and Sue and her staff were able to get me back with out much extra cost and without the usual problems. I always know that I can count on her if a problem arises while on a trip. I would never book an overseas trip or any kind of vacation without Sue!

My husband and I had been talking about a cruise to Alaska. I'm not a big fan of big cruise lines…read morebecause a vacation to me isn't with 1000+ other people on a ship. I shared this with my travel agent Christine Wilson Miclat and she really took to heart of my comments. Christine did her research and provided me a list of various sized ships with a summary of what might be good about them (based on what my wants were) and then provided information about mid-size cruise lines and what might be good about them. Great information which led to knowing more about Seabourn Cruise Line. After about a month or so, (we procrastinated) I was ready to go on a vacation. It was June 2025. Work was getting to me and I just needed to get away. My husband felt the same way. I texted Christine and asked her to look into a cruise to Alaska with Seabourn. It was late in the game trying to find a cruise. Many were sold out. But Christine found one! She took the reins and secured cruise and airline reservations, gave us important information about our cruise. She walked us through all the details and was readily available for any additional questions.The cruise was more than AMAZING. It was Amazing, Amazing. From the beginning to end we felt spoiled and well taken care of. The best experience ever. Christine was an integral part of making it happen. Her professionalism, knowledge, care and attention to detail was exceptional. One more thing.. when I got home I realized i had left a special piece of clothing on the ship. I asked Christine if there was a way to find it. Immediately she responded stating she would contact the cruise line. I received communication from the cruise line a couple days later stating a report was issued and if the item was found I would be notified. Christine followed up in a timely manner and although the cruise line was unable to locate the item, I was impressed with Christine's knowledge of what to do and attention to detail. I appreciate Christine's expertise and trust her completely to help us plan for our next cruise! Thank you Christine!

From the owner: CURO Travel by Dream Vacations specializes in luxury, romance, wellness, and affinity travel. From…read morecurated getaways and all-inclusive packages to destination weddings, wellness retreats, luxury cruises, and group adventures...we design seamless, personalized journeys tailored to your lifestyle. With over 10 years of trusted experience, we bring insider knowledge, exclusive perks, and a passion for creating moments that matter. Whether you're dreaming of a romantic escape, a rejuvenating wellness retreat, or an unforgettable group trip, CURO Travel is here to turn your vision into a reality. Proudly serving clients nationwide from our base in Tempe, Arizona.

Working with Shana at the Pixie Planner has been incredible. I've planned trips on my own before,…read morebut she consistently finds better prices, better options, and takes care of all the details I don't have time for. From helpful tips and tricks to answering every question along the way, she makes the entire process stress-free. She also handled multiple changes to our reservation quickly and professionally, including securing dining reservations that are usually very hard to get. All I had to do was send an email and she handled the rest. Using a travel planner doesn't cost anything extra, and with Pixie Planner it actually saves money, time, and stress. The level of care and attention to detail is truly exceptional. I highly recommend Pixie Planner for any vacation planning!

Once again Shana planned an amazing trip for 10 of us on a cruise from Miami to the Bahamas. It…read morewas truly amazing and we were so thankful for her expertise in getting all of us booked and giving us the best memories!! Thank you for all you do in making all our adventures the best!!!!!!

I lost my passport right before my trip to China so I wasn't able to apply for a Visa until the…read morevery last minute. There's no embassy or consulate here in Arizona so I was looking for a place to apply for me. I called and they required no appointment so I just walked in and was seen right away by Tina. She made the entire process super easy and even gave me her email so I can send in some documents I had forgotten at home. The whole process probably took me about 15 minutes. If you are applying for a Chinese Visa, bring your passport, a 2x2 photo and your license. You are able to download their form online or fill it out there. Super quick service and I was able to get my Visa approved before my trip. Their office is located on the West Wing of the building so it's the farther building in the back after you enter the parking lot. Suite 106.

I just received my Chinese Visa, I had the paperwork all filled out ahead of time. I had all my…read moredocuments ready and when I walked into global travel I wasn't even in the office for 10 minutes, the lady (wish I could remember her name) was very pleasant. She looked over my paperwork to make sure everything was in order, she told me my visa would be ready in 2 weeks. 1 week later I received a phone call my visa was ready. Very fast and efficient, I was very glad I went to Global Travel. I would definitely use Global Travel again.

When we selected Fantastica Italia to organize our tour of Northern Italy, our chief concern was…read morethat the company is based in the United States, far from where we would be should problems arise. We soon learned that MariaLaura continually monitors her clients' tours to ensure that all proceeds according to plan. A native Italian, she has comprehensive and intimate knowledge of every region of Italy, including areas quite off the beaten track where we intended to go. She has a vivacious personality and a genuine interest in getting to know her clients and understanding their travel styles and preferences. While she was charting out our itinerary, we stayed in touch by phone or email, working out all of the details. The trip she planned for us involved stays in seven cities, starting in Genoa, looping south through Cinque Terre and Florence, turning westward through Bologna and Parma, and finishing in Torino (all cities besides Florence were new to us). She booked all transfers and hotels, working with several local travel companies. The entire tour was indeed fantastic in every way, and went without a hitch. We had contact information for the local companies, and on the few occasions when we needed to be in touch with them (for example, when our boat tour of Cinque Terre had to be postponed because of bad weather), they were absolutely responsive and reliable. All of the drivers were punctual and personable, and even those who professed not to speak English spoke quite a bit and were eager to point out sites and provide interesting background information. Hotels were all first-rate and very well located (always an important criterion for us). MariaLaura booked walking tours in each of the cities we visited, and all of these tours were wonderful and essential to our experience. Otherwise, we were on our own in each of the cities to explore as we saw fit. Since we know Europe quite well and are comfortable with European languages, this worked out very well. (It's less likely that we'd try this approach in other parts of the world.) We took a fabulous day trip from Genoa exploring the western Italian Riviera and Monaco without a guide but only a driver, who took us from place to place and even to some places that he didn't know but that we had read about. On days when we were transferring from one city to another we tried to stop at points of interest along the way. For example, on our way from Bologna to Parma we stopped in Modena to tour the Casa Pavarotti, the Ferrari Museum, and the medieval city center. It's important to note that we could not have done such a tour on our own with a rental car. Parking would have been next to impossible in many of the places we visited. We were able to get out and explore while the driver waited and picked us up at a pre-appointed spot. MariaLaura also booked several excellent specialty tours, including an unforgettable private sunset boat tour of Cinque Terre and a small-group tour outside Parma (just four people) featuring locations where Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto are produced. MariaLaura was very helpful and patient with us as our plans developed. When we found out that tickets were available for a performance of Aida at the Teatro Verdi in Busseto (outside Parma) on a certain date, she reworked the schedule to make sure we would be there. This was not a trivial matter, since the timeframe was narrow and hotel reservations for the hotels we wanted were not readily available. We appreciated the way she willingly took on the challenge and got back to us quickly with a revised schedule that worked out perfectly. She is truly a gem. The cost for this trip, not inexpensive, was nevertheless a very good value. MariaLaura worked with us to tweak the program so as to keep it reasonably on budget. Our tour of Northern Italy was truly a dream vacation. Having been to Italy a number of times, there are still areas that we have not explored. If and when we plan another trip, we hope to do it through Fantastica Italia.

I contacted this company via their on-line contact…read more Months passed with no response, finally 3 months later they contacted me using computer issues as an excuse, (as to why they never responded). My request wasn't difficult, I'm first generation Italian and wouldn't have had a problem booking directly, I contacted them because my husband has some health issues and I felt they'd be able to help/advise with that. When people show you how incompetent they are, believe them.

Dave and his team have helped us plan 2 cruises! One which was last minute to the Mexican Rivera…read moreand another one to Alaska which got postponed due to pandemic. Both cruises were awesome but Dave and his team HELPED us every step of the way. Starting with recommendations and providing us many options. Additionally, since the Alaskan cruise was postponed twice.... The amount of change, information received from cruise, and my million questions ... Dave helped us through it every STEP OF THE WAY!!! Amazing care for his customers and great communication through out it all!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! We will be using again to plan another trip and Dave and his team will be our GO TO team for our vacation plans!! And if you want a trip of a lifetime BOOK A CRUISE TO ALASKA!!

We went on our trip at the beginning of July and I'm now ready to provide an update. We had the…read moretime of our lives and Jim along with Ride the Wave were a big part of making it happen. We had some issues with 2 tours that we booked through Ride the Wave and Jim was fast to respond and assist. One of the tours we ended up having to cancel due to scheduling issues. I reached out to Jim to let him know and he worked on getting the refund process started right away and I received a confirmation email from the tour vendor the same day. We're now just waiting for it to get credited back to our card. The peace of mind of our trip being taken care of by professionals is invaluable. I can't recommend enough going through a travel agency for big trips because you just never know what could happen. Ride the Wave is as good as they come and I'm looking forward to using their services again for our next big trip!

We really appreciate Cruise Planners Scottsdale's expertise and professionalism. We rented an Air…read moreBnB in San Diego over the 4th of July weekend. Sadly, it was NOTHING like it was advertised. Amanda was able to find us a nicer hotel on short notice on July 3rd!! I highly recommend.

From the owner: Cruise Planners Scottsdale can help you plan memorable and exciting vacations for families,…read morecouples, groups and singles. Cruises, Safaris, Escorted and Private tours. No matter what your dreams are we can make them come true. We have the one of largest land and sea based vendor offerings available to ensure the perfect match for your particular travel needs and style. Unsure of where to go next? Let us help you pick the perfect location! Call us today at 602-692-6669 or email amanda.thomas@cruiseplanners.com

It was really such a stress-relief working with Tracy. I was tasked with planning an extended…read morefamily trip to Scotland (never been before) and no idea where to start. I had planned a big trip like this before but this time I decided I could really use the help. So, I scrolled Virtuoso and found a planner that was local to me -- Tracy! It was great working with Tracy. It was like working with a friend where we could bounce ideas off of each other and riff and really pull the dials between budget and adventure together. Speaking of, she was really accommodating to my families tight budget as well. I'm sure it wasn't easy! But overall, when we got on the trip, it was super seamless. Everything was planned out to the T. We had a pre-trip meeting and that really helped me and my fiance know ahead of time of what to expect and the trip was super easy for us and best part of all, was that my parents and aunties were super happy to have experienced Scotland together. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

If you're looking to travel more, check off some bucket list places but don't know where to start,…read morethen Tracy is the right person to contact. Not only has she traveled to so many places, she has a vast amount of traveling knowledge to offer. Did I mention how amazing her trip planning skills are?! Guaranteed she'll make the entire process go smoothly for you!

The tour was worth the five year wait/lottery! We had a wonderful docent and received a fantastic…read moretour of Tovrea Castle which was superb in every way possible. I have lived in Arizona, specifically the Phoenix area, for most of my life and have driven by Tovrea Castle thousands of times. It was so cool to be able to walk the grounds and get a peek inside. I would highly suggest entering the lottery, it's free and some people have better luck than I did and can get in sooner than 5 years. This was an insightful tour mixed with great storytelling and history. The basement with all the artifacts of the family and learning more about the area makes me proud to be a part of Arizona! Worth the visit!

If you live in the Valley it's highly likely that you have driven by this place. From the 202 fwy…read moreyou can easily see it. I often wondered what is that building? Finally after passing it so many times I was curious enough to look it up. I googled "cake shaped building PHX" and it was the first result. "Tovrea (said tov-ree) Castle aka A jewel in the Sonoran desert" Since 2010 the City of Phoenix purchased, renovated, and opened it for tours. The very abbreviated story with this place is that some homesteaders from the early 1900s owned the land, sold 277 acres to a wealthy Italian man. Alessio Carraro had built a fortune in the sheet metal business in the 1920s from San Fran. He planned to build a hotel resort surrounded by a housing subdivision on 277 acres, Carraro Heights. The castle was built near the timing of when the Great Depression set in. Carraro wanted out, he sold the castle and some amount of acreage (for a fraction of his investment) to Della Tovrea, wife of cattle baron E.A. Tovrea. She lived there until her tragic death in 1969. Nearby is the Stockyard Restaurant, built by E.A.'s son so cattlemen had somewhere to eat near the stockyards. That restaurant still exists today. I plan to check it out. If you want more details and full story, go take the tour :) however tickets are not easy to come by. Tours sell out many months in advance and they started using a lottery system. I bought my tickets months ago. However worth a try to go. I wouldn't say its the most amazing thing I've ever seen and the use of the word "castle" is a stretch. I've been inside some real castles in US and Europe, however it's interesting and a fun thing to do and it satisfied my curiosity! :) Per their website- The Ticket Lottery for Fall 2022 Tickets has ended and all tickets have been distributed - look for last minute cancellation tickets. Ticket Lottery for Spring 2023 Regular Tours closed on October 15, 2022 and Winners will be notified via email starting November 1, 2022. https://tovreacastletours.com