First of all, if you have money to burn, Marquetta is your gal. We used her on a recommendation. We wanted a trip to Italy for two weeks. Her first quote was 30K. Yes, THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. Then she got it down to 25K. That's when I started doing my research. I used several reputable companies for tours and hotels and my costs (with the EXACT same flights, hotels, tours) came in at TEN THOUSAND LESS. When I sent her the info and asked if she could look at it, because maybe I was doing something wrong, she wrote me a very interesting email. She said I wasn't comparing correctly because I used different hotels with different class ratings (uh, no, I used the EXACT same hotels). She also said I hadn't included transportation. I did - I went page by page of her quote and priced everything she included. She even went so far as to say she wasn't sure what company I used for a tour (even though I noted it on the spreadsheet). She said they were "some unknown company - good luck!" I've used Viator for dozens of tours, had a customer service issue once, and they have been fantastic. Her quote, "You cannot compare a high-end tour company with the likes of Viator." I did suggest a different hotel in my email but did not include it in my cost comparison. She told me it wasn't suitable and that it was a party hotel. Well she clearly didn't know her stuff there because that hotel came as a recommendation from a friend with two children! They loved it! Direct quote: "I can tell that the price point for the level of arrangements we do is not where you are comfortable spending. But I cannot delve into using random services of unvetted tour companies (Viator) and just booking the cheapest of everything- it never works out for our clients and in my experience only causes issues when in travel." Another, "In the end, I do want my clients' travels to be an unforgettable and memorable experience, and therefore, I cannot cut corners just to make it happen price wise." As a travel agent are you not supposed to get the best deal for your clients? You may warn them with your experiences but you don't make fun of them and tell your customer to basically F off! I asked her specifically if there was any markup because I was OK with something reasonable for her. She swore up-and-down there was no markup. Yes there is, it comes in kickbacks from the companies she uses. And again I am OK with a little something but not $10,000 and an F you attitude. Honestly if she had said so upfront - that she only uses certain companies - then I probably wouldn't have even engaged her for $400. But she never said that. And I POLITELY asked her to let me know why I was so far off. She could've told me all the same things - that she used more reputable companies and worked with the hotels themselves, without the attitude. Snotty and condescending. Unbelievable. read more

We recently completed a fabulous trip to Ireland and Scotland arranged by Marquetta Chambers. It was truly a very enjoyable, adventurous, informative and memorable experience. Marquetta began the planning process by interviewing us and listening very well to our desires and budget, allowing her to tailor a perfect match. She provided great input including pushing us to extend our trip a few days given our stated list of objectives. Her advice, which we followed, turned out to be very insightful. Marquetta also proved her flexibility and resourcefulness when she responded to a mid-trip request for another private tour addition on our last full day in Scotland. She responded quickly and fulfilled our request for what turned out to be a true highlight of our trip. All of the hotels recommended and booked were very good and all of the arranged tour guides were excellent. We also enjoyed several additional perks from our hotels given Marquetta's relationships with them. Another great tool provided by Marquetta was a phone app that captured our entire trip and also provided easy one-click access to important phone numbers and a variety of easily accessible resources describing our destinations, maps, tipping hints, etc. It was an excellent resource that also included an easy path to communicate with her during our trip. We are so glad that we utilized the very professional services of Marquetta Chambers of Hill Barrett Travel for our recent vacation. We are already thinking about the options for our next journey and look forward to using Marquetta's assistance again. read more

Why isn't there a sixth star? Marquetta Chambers planned our trip to Italy and everything was outstanding. The hotels were clean, comfortable and luxurious. The tour guides were fascinating. The travel connections worked smoothly. All the restaurants she recommended were delicious. Her extra ideas such as tip suggestions and timing were perfect. Marquetta took all the stress out of the trip and made it fantastic. Yes, using a travel agent costs a bit more, but it was completely and totally worth it and we will plan any future trips with Marquetta without hesitation. Top notice, highest recommendation. read more

I have used Hill Barrett Travel for years and no matter where my husband and I go, the arrangements are made with careful consideration of everything we would like to do and see within our budget. Every detail is taken care of no matter how big or small and we always come home already looking forward to planning our next vacation with them. read more

I first booked a trip with Karimah nearly 15 years ago - a Disney cruise with my young children and extended family. Since then, I have book half a dozen more major European adventures that have been seamless and exceptional. Two adventures in Spain (Madrid, Grenada, Barecelona), Italy (a villa in Tuscany and adventures in Rome, Florence, Venice), Mediterranean Cruise (with added land exploration on Cinque Terre and Santa Margarita), an Alaskan family cruise and most recently a fabulous trip to San Sebastian, Spain and Bordeaux, France. Each trip has been a slice of heaven with exceptional excursions, perfect hotels, transportation and all the details set in advance for such a relaxed adventure. She manages to get us upgrades whenever possible - and patiently changes and adds as we lay out the itinerary. I so appreciate having a close relationship with her for advice and ideas. Sometimes I book on my own when needing a more budgeted experience - but will always come back to Hill Barrett and Karimah for those once in a lifetime adventures. Her expertise can't be matched! read more

We first booked a trip with Karimah almost 16 years ago - a delayed honeymoon to Maui for just the two of us. Since then, our family has grown and so have our requests, but Karimah and her team always do an amazing job at listening to our ideas, picking up on specifics and details, and making thoughtful and experienced recommendations. Whether quick jaunts to Disneyland with the family, detailed European vacations via train with a toddler, luxurious European get-aways, birthday trips with grandparents, or large-multi family holidays all over the world, Karimah always has the perfect itineraries and takes care of every detail, from flights, hotels, excursions, tour guides, and dining. Not just recommendations from books and websites, but personal experiences from her and her family. Absolutely the best! Thoughtful, personalized, and discerning! Maui / Kaui / Big Island Jamaica / Turks and Caicos / Nevis French Polynesia / Fiji / Australia Switzerland and Germany via Train / Ireland B&B via Car Danube River Cruise with Prague and Budapest Alaska Cruise Disneyland Disneyworld read more

We worked with Hill Barrett for our honeymoon. My husband and I didn't need anything overly extravagant but we wanted some special, memorable experiences in addition to the simple joy of just being in Hawaii. Marquetta helped us so much within the budget we approached with. She made sure we were well informed on what we could put together and she suggested some options to prioritize so we could get those special memories and photo ops I wanted. It was a perfect balance of a choice in options, and plain old guidance on her part so that we didn't miss out on some must sees. We hit a snag with a car rental company while we were there and all it took was a phone call directly to her and the problem was solved in minutes. She is just really good at her job and it made our two weeks in Hawaii a total dream. Having someone that professional in your pocket makes you look even more forward to vacationing. Far less daunting and simply more fun and relaxation to look forward to! read more

We have had the privilege of working with Marquetta at Hill Barrett Travel for the past five years and she has been an absolute dream to work with! She has planned dream vacations of ours to the Amalfi Coast (Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Capri, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Praiano), Venice/ Florence/ Rome, Bora Bora, St. Thomas/ St. John in the USVI, Riviera Maya/ Playa Del Carmen/ Mayakoba/ Tulum, Cabo, and more! She has an excellent eye for detail, and is always one step ahead, each step of the way. She really cares about the people she works with, and picks up on all the little things we love when we vacation and makes sure each are included in our trips. She carefully plans the transportation, includes the best travel tips and instructions, and makes sure you feel completely prepared so you can truly enjoy each bit of your vacation without the worry. She has always ensured we feel safe in everywhere we've traveled. Each of the guides/ tours have been unforgettable - Marquetta has been excellent in knowing which ones are the best and most worthwhile so you can make the most of your time away. She has planned some monumental trips for us (honeymoon, each anniversary and birthday trip since, and now our 5-year anniversary trip) and we cannot thank her enough for all she has done. On the rare occasion a flight gets canceled or delayed, Marquetta personally has alerted us and found alternative arrangements faster than we could have ever hoped for. She has gone above and beyond and we feel everyone working with her will have a fall-down amazing trip! We can't imagine ever planning a vacation without Marquetta and would highly recommend her to anyone and everyone. read more

I've been working with Karimah and Alnoor for over 15 years and each trip was perfectly customized to my style of travel, accomodations and price point. They treat you like family, they personally know all the details of the travel locations and give you sound advice on the area, things to do, entertainment and the best restaurants, and without any sales pitch as they truly just want you to enjoy your trip. Each and every time I've booked an annual trip - Karimah made sure that every detail was documented and she would personally reach out to the hotel/resort one week prior to our arrival just to ensure everything was spot on! My wife and I always know we're in the best of hands and care - Which equates to a very relaxing trip without any worries whatsoever! We've never had even a minor hiccup in our travel & accommodations, plus an added bonus with Hill Barrett's clout is that every trip except for one, we were given an automatic room upgrade upon our arrival. Karimah never promises this will happen because it's always based on occupancy but we've been very fortunate and appreciative of the upgrades we received. Book with Hill Barrett - You'll be pleased beyond your expectations! -- Tom read more

Marquetta at Hill Barrett Travel arranged a trip to the Maldives for our family of four. I have often done all of our travel arrangements but decided to try an agency due to the complexity of our original trip (was also supposed to include two weeks in South Africa). After this experience, I will definitely be calling Marquetta again and will highly recommend her to anyone. There were multiple instances where Marquetta advocated for us without me even knowing it - from airline schedule changes to unanticipated emergencies (my father-in-law passed away while we were on the trip). She and the team at Hill Barrett are awesome. read more

We just love Hill Barrett. THe people are wonderful and we feel they do everything possible to make a travel experience special. They have booked several trips for us and we have NEVER been disappointed. We have gone to Africa, the Amazon and several other places. Now we are booking a Hawaii trip at Christmas with them. We are well taken care of with this agency.... read more

We've been booking vacations with Karimah at Hill Barrett for a few years now. We originally weren't sure about using a Travel Agent, as we had always booked our own vacations using sites like Expedia, but we were making our first trip to Hawaii and were intimidated by all the choices (what island, what hotel, etc). Karimah helped us decide where we wanted to go and planned a really great vacation for us, and we've been back many times since. It's also nice to have someone in your corner when things don't go right and you are hundreds of miles from home. read more

Our family took a once in a lifetime trip to Europe and, if we didn't have Karimah's help we wouldn't have know where to start. She arranged everything for us - flights, hotels, ground transportation, tours, tour guides, etc. We could not have done that ourselves, and because everything was set before we left, we didn't have to worry about a thing. We could just relax and enjoy our vacation. Another bonus is that Karimah travels a lot herself, so she was able to provide many personal recommendations of the places we visited - London, Paris, Normandy, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Moscow. I can't recommend her highly enough. Next time we plan a vacation, we will definitely be getting help from Karimah. Oh, and the Pocket Travel app was awesome too. read more