There really is no better travel agent than Cathy Kroll!…read more She's passionate, worldly, knowledgeable, extremely "into you having THEE BEST trip", and works tirelessly to make sure everything works out perfectly! She will always go the extra mile for her clients no matter what! Not only have I known her for 38 years, but I have taken trips through her. And I honestly can say she is one of a kind! You will not be sorry if you book through her, she's worth every penny!

I have not used a travel agent to plan a trip in decades (William Shatner has handled the majority…read moreof my bookings), but when it came to traveling to two countries I had never visited, a friend suggested Cathy Kroll as she had been to Ireland and Scotland (and apparently the rest of the globe) on several occasions. I thought I would receive some good hotel and tour recommendations, but what I received was much more valuable. At every hotel/B&B/Castle we stayed in we received upgrades (free breakfast/ larger rooms with 5-Star views/ complementary massages, etc...) that were worth at least $2,000 when added up (although it is hard to put a price on some of the views). Also to my surprise, our airfare was lower than what we had found using various travel websites. Cathy met with us several times before our trip to insure she had covered all of our needs and then tracked us during our travels to insure we were receiving all of the extra perks, and upon our return she inquired as to any changes we would suggest to the itinerary she suggested. I would highly recommend Cathy to anyone planning a trip and will be using her on all future trips!!!

I really want to thank Ruth of Hot Spots for dealing with my families' very difficult and lengthy…read morebooking for their trip out here to visit. She was very diligent in finding us EXACTLY what we needed without losing patience with us. Let me tell you that was no easy task I am sure. We were certainly a handful with our endless questions about every option and ever changing minds about the perfect place to stay. We needed a group booking with a block of rooms, as our family was coming and going at different times, and Ruth calmly handled all of the switches and last minute changes with ease. Everyone was pleased with their accommodations and I will absolutely use Hot Spots again. Thanks again Ruth for your professionalism, patience and outstanding customer service, it's a valuable and extremely helpful service you are offering.

This service is great. I learned about Hot Spots about 4 years ago (September 2009) when I was…read moretrying to find a room for one night for my sisters bachelorette party. Hot Spots found us a fantastic sweet in the perfect location. The room was totally reasonable and the hotel waived the 2 night minimum stay. This is huge when you are visiting SB in peak season. I used Hot Spots again in June of 2011 when my boyfriend and I wanted a weekend getaway, but didn't want to spend all our vacation money on the hotel. Again, Hot Spots gave us options and rates that were fabulous. This past weekend was the best experience. We stayed at a hotel that did not honor the rate that Hot Spots quoted. It was a misunderstanding with the hotel staff. I called Hot Spots and, without any hesitation, they took care of everything. The hotel apologized and refunded us. More than anything, Ruth was ready to correct the fee discrepancy without hesitation before she even contacted the hotel. I knew that I could trust Hot Spots to honor their rates. Great service. Great attitude. My husband (the former boyfriend from trip #2 mentioned above) and I rave about hot spots. We simply do not understand why more people do not know about them. We are doing our part to spread the word.

What an amazing experience we had we rode horses for an hour and a half. The horses were all so…read morebeautiful and well taken care of everyone was so welcoming and helpful during the full experience. Our guide was Jimmy he was so great told us stories and some background of the horses and the ranch. After we went to their bar and had some drinks, they were a 10 out of 10. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for some fun or romantic experience. Thank you so much :)

This Ranch is so beautiful the pictures don't do justice! I've been on many horse back rides all…read moreover the US and the guide from Montana that does the tours is phenomenal! He loves what he does, is very knowledgeable, pleasant to talk to and shared a lot of nice stories about the outdoors. He is definitely an asset to Circle Bar Stables. For anyone booking try to go on his tour!! The nice gentleman that answers the phones is very sweet, I had to call several times to change my tour and he was so helpful I can tell he has been with the Stables a long time and loves being there. When I arrived I was the only one and he told me to go walk around while I was waiting I guess he read my mind. I had to take off 2 stars because of the Gentleman from Texas that works there. He honestly seems like he hates his job, he asked me several times if I was on a horse before and I told him give me any horse I'll be fine. He chose AXE and while he was bringing him over to me AXE was being a little stubborn and didn't want to come not because he didn't go on the trail but he was uncomfortable with the Texan. What bothered me most was he said "AXE STOP BEING A JERK" which made me really upset and uncomfortable. I don't like it when people wok with animals and call them derogatory names.

Steve and his expert team have helped my family enjoy the wonders of the world for years! From…read morePortofino Italy to the Inca Trail in Peru :) and don't even get me started on the incredible cruises. They handle all the details and we have never been disappointed. They are truly the best and they make traveling with kids stress free. LOVE THEM, SWEAR BY THEM, YOU SHOULD USE THEM!!!

I can't stand making travel plans so when my out of town girlfriend was planning to come visit and…read morehad "nice hotel with spa services" on her wish list I was at a loss over where to stay. Another friend told me to call Isabel and I am so thankful for the suggestion - she handled everything, from finding dates that worked within our price range to the booking to the spa credit and I didn't have to do a thing! She replied to every email promptly, made great suggestions, and my friend and I had the most wonderful relaxing weekend. I have often thought about vacations I want to take with our family but we always end up just going to Santa Barbara or Palm Springs or to visit family on the east coast (which are all lovely of course) because of how much I do not enjoy figuring out travel - I'm so happy to have found someone who can do the legwork. We may actually get out of California for a real family vacation one of these days! I will definitely work with Isabel/Strictly Vacations in the future. Thanks Isabel!

Rachel is awesome! Super knowledgeable of the ocean, water, marine life, and history of the area…read more What a rad human being to have guiding the tour. As it turns out, all of the harbor seals, and sealions have names. We befriended one named Steve, he is much better at swimming than I am. He also taught me secret techniques to paddling. This one Pelican named Parry got into a barking match with some sealions, which is a fight he wasn't gonna win, let's be honest. Though I was hoping to see an M-A-N-A-T-E-E ... next time! If you're gonna go down on Haley street, where the dogs are easy and the sun is cheap, you never know just who you'll meet, on Haley. (But hopefully it's Rachel from the Santa Barbara Adventure Company, and you get her kayak tour; shout out!)

A heartfelt thank you to Santa Barbara Adventure Company for creating such a memorable birthday…read moreexperience for our daughter. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. We had a fun ferry ride to the islands and even got to slow down to watch a large Sunfish (Mola Mola) snacking on some jellies. I recommend getting in line early to secure the best view seating on the ferry. Our kayak guides, Chuck and Adam, were exceptional--knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They made the entire trip both fun and informative, while ensuring we always felt safe and well cared for. We were fortunate to have perfect weather and warm water, which allowed us to explore all seven sea caves--many of which are inaccessible during high tide or rougher conditions. It made the experience even more special. Having lived in Santa Barbara for 22 years, this was my first time visiting the islands, and it was truly unforgettable. The pristine landscapes, abundant sea life, and even spotting several tiny island foxes while enjoying our picnic lunch, made it an unforgettable adventure. We can't wait to do it again--highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and exceptional experience!

Stacey and Mike are wonderful! They are the owners of TwoCan Retreats in beautiful Montecito, CA…read more The staff treat you like favored family members. The food is exquisite, full of flavor, and comforting. The location is off the beaten path, in a lovely area full of plants, trees, and big sky - with perfect mountain views. If you are looking for care, love, and tranquilty - this is the place for you. Take off the world as you step over the threshold. Lean in to being present and allow yourself to feel, honoring the reality of the moment as you grieve. This approach encourages gentle self-compassion, letting emotions exist without judgment. You'll find easement as you are lifted and cared for - together. There is hiking, yoga, and areas for quiet reflection. TwoCan Retreats is a mindfulness and grief-informed wellness company. They offer specialized all-inclusive grief, wellness, and adventure retreats in Santa Barbara as well as lush locations in Costa Rica. TWOCAN Retreats https://share.google/C3082EJKHXnUYxR6f

From the owner: TwoCan Retreats hosts unique all-inclusive retreats and special events in Costa Rica aimed at…read morehaving fun, strengthening connections, building community and giving back. In keeping with this philosophy, at TwoCan Retreats our mission is to organize a variety of themed group retreats that enable our guests to share unique experiences and build connections with friends old and new, explore new places and enjoy incredible adventures in a wide range of interest areas, all while giving back and creating memories that last a lifetime. All of our retreats include a day of giving back. We volunteer our time and donate to local nonprofits, while simultaneously learning all we can about the organization, their mission and the population they serve. We always make sure to reward your contribution with a Tico lunch, and a swim at a local waterfall. We are grateful to be able to participate in these adventures, to travel with friends and family, meet interesting people, experience a different culture, customs and foods, and contribute in ways that directly impact the communities we visit. We love Costa Rica — the country, its people and their way of life, known as Pura Vida (pure life). Costa Ricans (Ticos) are happier and healthier than many other cultures because they appreciate the simple things in life, and are grateful for what they have. We think Costa Rica is the perfect place to pause, take a breath, restore and connect, and we think you will too.

Beth from Cruise Planners has helped me plan 2 Virgin Voyages cruises as well as a road trip in…read moreUtah and Spain. She's really responsive & is a great resource for all types of vacations. We usually have a discussion first to talk about my goals for a trip and then she keeps me in the loop until she finalizes an itinerary that I'm happy with. Why would I do the planning myself when she can do all the work--it's a no brainer!

From the owner: At Cruise Planners, we don't just find you amazing cruises, we plan the vacation of your dreams…read morewhether it be an all inclusive resort or an escorted tour or independent travel. I can also help with honeymoons, destination weddings, baby moons, girlfriend getaways, bachelor parties, family reunions and school excursions. Even if you need just a hotel, car rental or concert tickets--anywhere in the world--you can book that directly on my website at www.getready2travel.com. Because of our relationship with American Express we have special offers you can't find elsewhere!