Sydney did an amazing job organizing and booking our trip (for 8 adults) to Costa Rica. Our…read moretransportation, accommodations, and activities/tours were first class and perfect for our group. Sydney was very attentive and patient during our decision making process. As a bonus, Sydney has a beautiful personality and is lots of fun!

I have used the Poodle Booked it for a nearly 3-week trip and each day was filled with an itinerary…read moretailored to my interests. She found the best deals, stayed on top of every minute detail, and made this a stress-free and wonderful experience. I will use The Poodle Booked it for all of my excursions going forward! Thank you Sydney!!!

We worked with Laurie Taylor for booking our Alaskan Cruise. She was very helpful and responded…read morequickly to any questions I had. I would recommend Laurie highly! She also had a very nice Strawberry treat sent to my stateroom upon my arrival.

We can't say enough about the excellent service, planning and follow-up that we received from…read moreTracey Kleber and the Travelstore. She turned our 2 week vacation in the south of France into one of the most stress free stays we have ever had. With the Pope coming for a visit to Notre Dame at the last minute, closing many of the surface streets to taxis, Uber, and buses, she managed to find us excellent accommodations near the Gare de Lyon. Since we didn't know about the Pontiff's visit until late, this above and beyond treatment from Tracey helped us enjoy and relish the trip even more. We've been working with Tracey since 2014 and she has never, ever let us down. She has added that personal touch that keeps us coming back for more. We highly recommend her for any and all travel needs but only if you want 5 star results!

Where do I begin?! Matt is an amazing resource to have in your pocket if you're planning a getaway!…read moreMy fiancé used Matt's services back in March to plan a surprise proposal in Fiji and Matt did not miss a single detail. From the air travel to the transfers over to our resort to everything in between, everything went perfectly without a hiccup. We arrived at the Fiji airport and were greeted by a gentleman who took us to our own private area to wait for our helicopter transfer to Tokoriki island! We received welcome necklaces (handmade by women in the village), fans, and bottled water. We were able to rest in privacy until it was time to catch our helicopter. We flew over the islands with one other couple before dropping them off at their resort and continuing on to our resort; Tokoriki Island Resort. The views were amazing and coming in on a helicopter is such an unreal experience. Matt didn't miss a single element when helping my fiancé plan, either. We happened to be visiting over my birthday and when arriving there was a beautiful "Happy Birthday, Kristen" writer in palms on our bed. We had the meal plan included in our stay and were able to book massages with spa multiples times a day! The resort is small and beautiful and everyone becomes family after the first afternoon there. When it was time to leave, once again, everything was perfectly laid out on our itinerary for us, all we had to do was follow it. Our resort shuttled us by boat to the ferry where we were brought to the main island. Once we arrived at the main island, Matt had a car scheduled that was waiting for us to transfer us over to the airport. We had all our tickets and items that were needed for traveling at our fingertips thanks to Matt! Easiest traveling experience we have ever had. If you're planning a big, eventful trip and don't want to be worried about missing a single detail, be sure to contact Matt at Sea Escape Travel! He will take amazing care of your and make sure all your wants and needs are met, ensuring the best vacation of your life!

"Stumbled" across Matt Knowles/Sea Escape Travel when casually examining a trip from US to…read moreAustralia for Fall 2025. From our first email, through first conversation - with inventory of our interests and locations and timing, through multiple meetups and reviews of plans... every connection prior to departure was professional, thorough, friendly, and accommodating. Matt gave us all the facts and all the "insider" tips to make our AUS trip beyond our expectations. While traveling, Matt was supportive of us when we contacted him abroad for a question or two - always friendly, professional and supportive. The trip was top-notch, and we attribute this to Matt's careful and attentive attention to our needs and planning details. Now home again in California, we've shared our top-notch experience with Matt at Sea Escape Travel with several friends who now want to go to AUS and work with Matt. We highly recommend this Agency.

My husband and I have taken 3 cruises with Outbound. All have been excellent. Outbound has crafted…read morethe perfect blend of destinations, cruise lines, and a wonderful mix of LGBTQ+ people. Each trip is a chance to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. We just came back from the Italian Odyssey adventure (September 2024). The itinerary was great starting in Rome, then days at Sorrento, Dubrovnik (location for Game of Thrones scenes), Kotor, Zadar, and finishing in Venice. Every evening had both entertainment and theme parties. When I say a wonderful mix of people, I mean it's a safe place welcoming all: Gay, straight, bi, trans, ace, men, women, non-binary, and every hue of heritage. The chartered cruise ship was the Azamara Pursuit. Everyone on the Azamara team showed amazing hospitality. Their pastry chef even made up a rainbow cake for the sailaway festivities. (BTW, when I say everyone welcome, we had several people who travelled with their mothers. Moms are awesome!)

I hate leaving bad reviews for small companies, especially LGBT ones. However, I felt so duped by…read moreOutbound, I felt the need to warn others. In June 2025, I was in Tel Aviv when the war with Iran began. I was woken every two hours during the night to run to a bomb shelter, unsure when I would be able to leave or whether I would survive. I would sooner go through that again than take another cruise with Outbound. I have been on more than 25 gay cruises, all of them full-ship charters. My Outbound cruise was, by far, the worst. Outbound promises a five-star experience. Before departure, it seemed as though they might deliver one: the pre-cruise information was excellent, with frequent updates about the itinerary, packing, parties, and theme nights. Once we were on board, that attention to detail disappeared. Take for example the "blue and white party, " their "signature event.' We were told to wear Outbound's colors and expect a party, but we weren't told what kind of party or when it would take place. After touring Seville in 95-degree heat, we returned to the ship around 4:30 p.m., hoping to cool off by the pool before dinner. Instead, we found that every pool lounger had been removed and the deck had been filled with dining tables, chairs, and a buffet. Apparently, the party was dinner on the pool deck. The usual buffet and restaurants were unavailable, so if you wanted dinner, that was where you ate. The entertainment we saw was the ship's band, and the atmosphere reminded me of a particularly sad bar mitzvah. I understand there was more entertainment later, but I didn't stay to see it. Had Outbound simply told us that this event would take over the pool deck for dinner, we could have planned around it. Even people I spoke with who had sailed with Outbound before were surprised, which is remarkable for an event the company holds on every cruise. The other parties were similarly disappointing. The nighttime events took place in a lounge with its tables and chairs still in place, leaving a small dance floor in the middle and a buffet off to the side. They never felt much like parties. They felt like really sad Bar Mitzvahs. Outbound makes a point of saying it is "not a circuit party," so I did not expect an Atlantis-style party atmosphere. But if a cruise advertises parties, I still expect them to feel festive. More broadly, Outbound is clear about what it isn't and much less clear about what it is. There was little programming on board. At night, the main activity was generally a show, with no competing option at the same time. The performers Outbound brought on were fine, but none of the shows stood out to me. I never left thinking, "That was wonderful! I can't wait to tell my friends about it." It felt more like we went because it was the thing to do that evening. What surprised me most was the absence of any sense of community. On every other gay cruise I've taken, I felt that we were part of a shared experience. Despite Outbound chartering the entire ship, this felt like a random group of people making the best of being in the same place. The ship, Azamara Quest, was presented as a luxury vessel, but our cabin felt dated and cramped. The bathroom could not comfortably accommodate two people at once, and the shower was especially small. The ship's own entertainment was also disappointing. A few singers were good, but the Broadway revue felt like a talent show: a show title appeared on a screen, someone sang a song from it, and then the next performer came out. There was little to tie it together as a production. I will say, it was not all bad. Jose, the Outbound cruise director was incredibly friendly. And, I said about the pre-cruise communication is great. Eric was very responsive to emails. It was nice to have most food and beverages included, apart from specialty restaurants and top-shelf alcohol. As someone who doesn't drink much, though, the included drinks added little value for me. I spent more on this vacation than on any other trip I've taken, and I came away feeling ripped off. Outbound's marketing built expectations of a five-star experience that the cruise did not meet. For me, it overpromised and underdelivered.

Walt from Walt's Adventures adventuring at the Menagerie Hill Ranch in Vacaville, California…read more Life can be interpreted as more fulfilling when filled with adventures. It is wise to step outside your environment and, in the case of this current venture, go visit an Alpaca farm. The Menagerie Hill ranch has beautiful animals. The host was awesome and knowledgeable. We increased our knowledge of the animals and of the farm but also got to feed them. We also had the opportunities to get close and personal with them for pictures. They were all friendly and fluffy. I recommend this unique experience for all because if you do not just break your usual pattern to stop and smell the roses or to pet and feed an Alpaca, life will pass by before you know it. Put your life on pause just for a few hours and go see the Alpacas. They would like to share peace with you. You can find them at the Menagerie Hill Ranch

This was a memorable trip. We were originally slated to visit in late June before my birthday but…read moreboth Deb and Kirk were recovering from surgery. We stayed in touch over the next several weeks before settling on an August date. We braved the high temps and winding roads to arrive at the ranch. It's a beautiful space on a hillside and you can see the herd and their guardian llama as you pull into the parking lot. We learned a lot about the alpaca life cycle, fed the boys, and my daughter got to hold and carry a cria. We bought two cute alpaca shaped soaps. I didn't experience any of the negativity others have complained about. It is a working ranch so it's not a petting zoo or a tourist attraction. Go with the flow and you'll have a great experience.

Such a beautiful little nature escape! It has peaceful trails, plenty of wildlife, and beautiful…read morescenery along the American River. It's an easy, relaxing walk and a great spot for families or anyone looking to get away from the city for a bit. Love the museum/gift shop they have. Definitely a Sacramento area gem!

Store is cool go here and buy something. They have good educational exhibits. I really like to go…read morehere and relax

The Black Chasm Cavern is located in the tiny town of Volcano which really feels like a step back…read morein time. I loved that this tour includes some amazing and beautiful natural wonders as well as a little bit of history. The place was very easy to find and a quick 30 min or so drive from Jackson. There is a lovely little store to check out before or after your tour as well. The chasm is a cool 58 degrees which was nice on this 90 degree-ish day. It is a little on the steep side with lots of stairs and a few areas where you definitely need to duck from the rocks but was worth it! The limestone cavern is just amazing with breathtaking stalagmite, stalactite and very rare helictite formations. These helictites look like they defy gravity and grow in amazing curling directions. Incredibly, there is a blue lake at the very bottom of the cavern that can be seen from way above - unfortunately we are unable to access that far down but man I wish I could! We learned the lake has tiny little shrimp that live in the pure crystal waters and the only place they are known to exist, mind blowing. Our tour guide was great and shared so much knowledge and history. History: The chasm was discovered in 1854 long after the Miwok people had already lived in the area. Of course, the discoverers wanted to try and cash in on their discovery so they began charging folks and would literally lower them by rope into a hole in the ground with some candles precariously balanced on a plank of wood. Luckily we have stairs and nicely built platforms with cave lighting to see this amazing magical national landmark. Definitely worth the visit!

This was such a fantastic day trip for our family! We were staying in Angels Camp, so it was a…read morequick, scenic drive of just over an hour to get there. It's super convenient that it's the only cave tour in the area open every day of the week (minus holidays). Our guide was wonderfully friendly, knowledgeable, and patient with all our questions. The stairs throughout the cavern were easily manageable for all the kids--even our 5-year-old handled them with no problem! The tour wasn't crowded at all, which made the entire experience much more relaxed and enjoyable. **A quick tip for future visitors:** Tours start on the hour, so time your arrival for just before to avoid a long wait. It's first-come, first-served, and while there are benches to relax on, there isn't much to do on-site if you end up having to wait for the next slot. Overall, it was a perfect outing and a memorable experience for the whole family. Highly recommended!

River Fox train with Anthony, April and Ashley today was extremely accommodating with superb…read morecustomer service! We took the Old Vine Express and were pleasantly surprised with the cordial attentive treatment, the warm touches and individualized treatment. Anthony cares about his clientele. The Food menu is well-priced. Order the fries! Check out the other train experiences: Boba Tea Train, Brunch Train, Murder Mystery Train.

09/26/2026: My wife…read more& I booked the Yolo Traveller Golden Fox experience. Right as we boarded the train, the direction & guidance to our seats was pretty chaotic & a bit confusing. The staff didn't appear to have a system in place for order-taking so the waiters almost skipped over our table completely at the beginning of the journey. There's supposed to be champagne poured at the tables prior to your food arriving. When the staff finally brought out the champagne, it was quite warm. The food we ordered took a while to arrive at our table. Luckily, the alien themed cheese burger & fries were actually pretty decent & we enjoyed it. They didn't provide any napkins which seemed ridiculous since most of the menu items were greasier finger foods. My wife & I felt like we lucked out receiving our food when we did as there were several other tables that were still waiting a long time for their food to arrive. I overheard at least three different groups of guests complaining about either the food or drinks taking too long or being the complete wrong order. There was honestly a lot of idle time for a short 2-hour train ride & it really felt a bit boring at times with nothing to really do onboard. There were speakers throughout the different train carts, but the music kept cutting in & out with it mostly remaining off possibly due to connection issues to some staff members cell-phone or device. Finally, near the end of the experience, the staff brought us paper review cards to provide feedback to the ride, but they didn't pass out any writing utensils so we were unable to complete their review onboard. Overall, the staff seemed undertrained & there was a clear lack of leadership/structure from the management team. The service was not great, the setting & ambience was only okay, & the experience/activity itself was a bit dull. The one positive was that the specific food we ordered was decent. We won't be returning anytime soon & I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

I can't thank Dee Garcia enough for all the fabulous cruises she has booked for me over the years!…read more I am now Elite status thanks to Dee and her over the top help! Her service goes above and beyond, just helping me with a vacation. She has the personal touch and goes out of her way , at any time of the day to assist. Just booked Tahiti for 28 days and it is a once in a lifetime trip, which if it wasn't for Dee Garcia at Ships and Trips travel, I would never be able to do this. She is not just my travel agent, but I consider her family! Thank you my friend.. TT

A little late but still worth mentioning.Catherine Williams @ Ships and Trips travel assisted with…read moreplanning my 40th birthday boyz trip to Cabo,Mexico.From good recommendation of awesome Riu Palace Baja California - Adults Only - All Inclusive to all the travel plans.I can't thank her enough for the awesome job she did! Thanks again @catherine@shipsandtrips.com Chris Rono

Carmen Williams, owner of Will C Travels, arranged my airfare and hotel for an 11 day trip to…read moreAlaska, including using an eticket credit that was expiring soon. She saved me from many hours of worry. Carmen is a true professional and an active traveler. If you have a destination on your bucket list, she has probably been there and can advise you. I definitely will be calling her again for future trips.

From the owner: As an experienced agent, I will consult with you before making expert recommendations that fit your…read morebudget and expectations.