Leading Retirement Travel Experts

For the past six years, my family and I have lived and traveled continuously around the world, visiting every continent in a 13-month span and documenting the experience as full-time travel creators. Along the way, our YouTube channels have grown to more than 700,000 subscribers, drawn not to glossy brochure travel, but to the real version: the logistics, the decisions, the tradeoffs, and the moments that don’t fit neatly into an Instagram square. After decades spent running digital marketing agencies, I co-founded ABC Trips, a luxury and adventure travel agency focused on high-touch, experience-driven travel—polar expeditions, African safaris, expedition cruising, private yachts, and deeply cultural itineraries designed for solos, couples, groups, and families. The work sits at the intersection of brokerage, storytelling, and logistics, with a strong bias toward knowing what’s genuinely worth the splurge—and what’s just good marketing. Along the way, I’ve served as a quoted travel industry source for major publications, appeared on network news segments and podcasts, and collaborated closely with leading travel brands, lodges, and expedition operators worldwide. My commentary often focuses on luxury and expedition travel, family and multigenerational travel, travel trends, and what it actually takes to design a location-flexible life that works long-term. These days, my time is split between: - Advising clients on exceptional luxury and adventure travel through ABC Trips - Serving as a media source and collaborator for journalists and brands - Continuing to explore the world with my family—still learning, still curious I’m not especially interested in chasing trends or shouting into the void. I value thoughtful questions, smart conversations, and people who care about doing things well—and enjoying the ride while they’re at it. If our paths cross, there’s a good chance we’ll have something interesting to talk about.

I’ve spent over seven years at Yonder Travel Insurance mastering the 'fine print' so travelers don't have to. My expertise lies in deconstructing complex policy language into clear, actionable advice, whether I’m recommending the ideal plan for a unique itinerary or guiding a client through the intricacies of the claims process. By maintaining key partnerships with top insurance providers, I stay at the forefront of industry trends to provide unbiased, expert insights that help travelers maximize their benefits and navigate the unexpected with confidence. I use this experience to craft insightful responses on behalf of Yonder to further educate the public on travel insurance, which you can explore in my featured articles section.

With 25 years in the travel industry across Europe, I have recently started my own business as a travel consultant. Leveraging my experiences as a tour guide in France, Norway and the Benelux, as well as resort work in other countries, I now help plan itineraries for independent travelers to Europe,

Throughout my eight-year career, I leveraged my marketing and communications experience to grow small businesses. At the end of 2018, I left my full-time job to "retire" and enjoy life more, which led me to launch a blog with my husband aimed at helping others reclaim their own time, just as we were doing.On our blog, Trip Of A Lifestyle, we write about how saving money and traveling can go together on the journey to financial independence and retiring early. We share practical tips, life hacks, and mindset-changing advice so other people can become financially free and do whatever makes them happiest.

Jennifer Spatz is the Founder of Global Family Travels and a leader in regenerative, community-based tourism. A cultural anthropologist at heart, she designs immersive travel experiences grounded in her company’s mission to Learn, Serve, and Immerse—connecting travelers meaningfully with local communities, cultures, and natural environments. Through partnerships with global and local nonprofits, Jennifer integrates regenerative tourism principles and aligns programs with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Her journeys combine cultural exchange, educational experiences, homestays, and community-driven projects that strengthen social and environmental systems in the destinations visited. Her insights on regenerative travel have been featured in TravelAge West (“Regenerative Meets Family Fun”) and on the podcast Regenerative Tourism: When Sustainability Isn’t Enough. (see all news links here: https://www.globalfamilytravels.com/news)

Founder of TRAVI World, a comprehensive travel guide platform covering 17+ destinations worldwide. With expertise in global tourism trends, destination insights, and travel industry analysis, I provide in-depth knowledge on hotels, attractions, and experiences across Dubai, UAE, Bali, and other popular destinations. Passionate about helping travelers discover authentic experiences and make informed travel decisions.

Christina Gales is a luxury travel advisor and founder of Christina Gales Travel, a boutique travel consultancy specializing in European itineraries, Caribbean escapes, elevated family travel, milestone celebrations, and luxury ocean and river cruises. A Fora and Virtuoso-affiliated advisor based outside Chicago, Christina has planned hundreds of trips across 20+ countries and serves over 100 clients nationwide. With extensive destination training across Europe, the Caribbean, Iceland, Hawaii, and Mexico—plus specialist certifications in luxury travel, cruise planning, and ecotourism—she brings both breadth and depth to every journey. Her preferred status with 8,500+ hotels, resorts, and cruise lines globally allows her to secure exclusive perks and VIP experiences for clients. As both a travel professional and mother of five, Christina is frequently sought after for her expertise in family travel strategy, multi-generational trip design, and making luxury travel approachable for real families. She speaks regularly on European travel planning, destination trends, the psychology of travel, and the shift toward meaningful, purpose-driven travel experiences. Her itineraries favor local culture, boutique hospitality, and personalized experiences over mass-market tourism. Known for her warm, collaborative approach and concierge-level support, Christina helps travelers feel confident, connected, and inspired—from dream to departure to memories that last a lifetime

Kayla is an American luxury travel designer based in Puglia, Italy, and the founder of Storia Travel Club. She relocated to southern Italy in 2024 and has built a travel business designing bespoke itineraries for discerning travelers with a particular focus on Italy and Europe. Her lived experience in Puglia gives her access to the kind of local detail that no guidebook captures: which masseria is worth the splurge and which is coasting on reputation, where to find the best bombette in the Valle d’Itria, and why the heel of Italy consistently surprises even seasoned travelers. She works with a select clientele, including ultra-high-net-worth individuals, people seeking relocation to Italy, and those who expect their travel to be entirely handled by a professional. Her work has been featured on The Puglia Guys podcast, and her knowledge of the region, including its food culture, lesser-known geography, and the properties worth staying in, makes her a go-to source for editorial coverage on authentic luxury and slow travel in Italy.

Passionate traveller and co-founder of CheckinAway.com, where I share detailed reviews and guides for upscale hotels and unique destinations. Exploring the world one trip at a time—here to share insights and help you plan unforgettable adventures!

Sheila Hayes is a family travel expert and content creator behind SheMamaMaps, a platform dedicated to helping families travel smarter and stress-free. She specializes in real-world travel with teens, budget-friendly strategies, and maximizing points and miles. Sheila has created content across destinations including the Caribbean, Central America, Japan and the U.S., with videos reaching over 3.8 million views. Her insights focus on practical planning, family-friendly accommodations, and making travel accessible for everyday families.

I’m the founder of Limitless Morocco Tours and a Morocco travel expert with hands-on experience designing private tours, desert adventures, and cultural journeys across Morocco. I specialize in helping travelers experience authentic Morocco through customized itineraries, local guides, and immersive desert experiences in places like Marrakech and Merzouga. I regularly share expert insights on Morocco travel, safety, itineraries, and best practices for first-time visitors.

I'm a mom of 2, and travel often with my husband and kids. I've travelled to nearly 40 countries and lived in 7. My website, Tiny Footsteps Travel, reaches tens of thousands of readers each month. With almost 10 years of experience as a school teacher, I create thoughtful, eco-conscious travel guides on my site that are family-friendly and inclusive for kids of all ages. I create itineraries, videos, and resources that make meaningful travel accessible for parents and their children. I primarily cover the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, Scandinavia (especially Sweden, Denmark and Iceland) and the British Isles. I ensure that my readers have a true picture of what their trip entails through honest feedback based on real personal experiences.

A leading expert on motorhome holidays in New Zealand. Offering practical tips, hidden-gem itineraries, and commentary on travel trends for your story, with a focus on sustainable travel. With 20 years of experience helping thousands of people explore New Zealand on the ultimate road trip. Our focus is on high-quality, sustainable travel. Available to provide expert commentary, tips, or full quotes on: New Zealand travel trends, the best self-drive itineraries (both North & South Island), tips for first-time motorhome travellers, sustainable tourism and travel in NZ, the New Zealand tourism industry

I am an online entrepreneur, author, and travel scholar specializing in high-end travel, cultural exploration, and local destination experiences. As the founder of Paradize.life, a travel website dedicated to collecting luxury destination knowledge, I am an expert in helping travelers find unique experiences, local secrets, and personalized itineraries across Europe, Asia, and beyond. My area of expertise is deep travel research and writing, where I track future trends, review top destinations, and create content to inform and motivate modern travelers. Although I have not visited each country personally, my strength is transforming in-depth research into clear, informative, and SEO-optimized content connecting travelers with luxury services, from private jet charters to luxury resorts and unique tours.

Maurice Smith, CTIE, is a hospitality strategist, luxury travel expert, regenerative tourism advocate, and founder of Eugene Toriko, a luxury travel agency built around purposeful, responsible, and highly personalized travel experiences. His work sits at the intersection of elevated guest experience, sustainability, cultural storytelling, and place-based hospitality. Through Eugene Toriko, Maurice has focused on boutique hotels, culturally rooted itineraries, sustainability-minded partners, and experiences that connect travelers more thoughtfully to people, place, and environment. Maurice was recognized on the Travel + Leisure A-List in 2022 and 2023 and has been featured by Robb Report among top Black travel specialists. His expertise has been sought by publications including Bloomberg, The Washington Post, USA Today, Business Insider, and Money.com, where he has contributed perspective on travel trends, destination value, and evolving traveler expectations. His industry recognition includes a 2023 Gold Magellan Award for Eugene Toriko’s giving-back initiative, a 2024 Silver Magellan Award for ATL & Co On the Go with Eugene Toriko, and recognition from TravelAge West for marketing efforts connected to the same media platform. Maurice was also selected for Tripadvisor’s RECO program and is a signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. Today, Maurice’s work spans hospitality strategy, media, public speaking, regenerative tourism, environmental stewardship, and the future of more intentional guest experiences. He is also connected to Amka Terra, a stewardship, ecological learning, and regenerative tourism platform focused on environmental education, biodiversity, youth learning, community partnership, and place-based restoration.

Licensed, insured, and bonded professional travel agent. I love to travel whether it be for adventure or relaxation. I love to share my passion of traveling with others. I have experience in booking travel of all kinds.

My name is Kristen and I have traveled, lived and worked all across the globe for over a decade. In 2013, after nearly a decade building a career in corporate marketing in NYC, I left it all behind to travel solo across 3 continents and 26 countries. From there I became a scuba diving instructor, and spent the next 10 years living and working in Thailand, Mexico, St. Croix and Florida. In 2017, I was voted PADI's Inspiring Woman Diver of the Year. Beginning in 2024 I joined Fora as a luxury travel planner and have launched my own travel brand and blog, Dear Destination Travel, so that I could help inspire others to make their travel dreams and goals come to life. I have now traveled to 6 continents and over 35 countries. My website, deardestinationtravel.com, is a complete travel resource and inspiration hub.

𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 If you want to talk marketing, partnerships, storytelling, or share a passion for travel and lifelong learning. I'm an entrepreneur who sold an online content brand for six figures, a travel writer / journalist, marketing director, blogger, teacher, tutor, mom, and more. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈’𝐦 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 - Building community, collaboration, and connecting people to the world around them. My dream job? Traveling the world to teach and inspire others about different cultures and ways of living. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈’𝐦 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 - Working with DMOs, CVBs, PR firms, and travel and relocation companies, I’ve had the opportunity to: - See the world - Create strategies and content that bring places to life - Foster relationships that broaden perspectives I’ve built brands from the ground up—launching, scaling, and selling a six-figure lifestyle blog/brand. I’ve taught the strategies behind that success, helping businesses grow with data-driven creativity and storytelling. 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 As a writer, journalist, and public speaker, I’ve: - Appeared on local news - Spoken at industry conferences and events - Created YouTube content with 92K+ views (resort travel) and 262K+ views (my breast cancer journey) - Published articles on HuffPost, AP News, Matador Network, Yahoo News, MSN, and more My content has reached millions of viewers. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐞 Every trip taught me something new, broadened my perspective, and deepened my love for exploring how others live, speak, and see the world, including: - Studying abroad in Spain - Volunteering in Costa Rica (physical therapy for nursing home residents) - Teaching English to kids in Israel 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 • Travel with teens and young adults • Wellness, more so around mental health, treating yourself, connection with self, nature, and travel partners • Active middle-aged travelers with the time and resources to explore • Destinations that offer a mix of relaxation, culture, and adventure • Women's travel groups and girls' getaways • Remote work-friendly destinations for extended stays • Multigenerational travel • Ancestry and heritage travel • Meaningful connections to culture, people, and nature around the world • Hurkle-Durkling (lounging, cozy retreats, comfort)

Jen Curnutt is a travel blogger, freelance writer, and content creator behind Jen33Travel, a premier travel blog focused on outdoor adventure, curated itineraries, and climate-conscious travel. Based in Southern California, Jen has worked with 100+ travel and lifestyle brands, creating engaging content that inspires readers to unplug, explore hidden gems, and experience the world more meaningfully. IG @jen33travel.

I’m founder of Terra Voyage Pro Club — the first and only Europe-focused B2B travel platform that combines professional training, white-label itineraries, and visa expertise for travel advisors and agencies. My career in global travel and hospitality spans over 25 years. I’ve represented luxury hotel chains across Europe — including Leading Hotels of the World and Small Luxury Hotels — and promoted boutique properties to top tour operators. I’ve built direct partnerships with hoteliers and DMCs in Italy, France, Spain, and Switzerland, and represented the partner of Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises in Europe and the US. Today, through Terra Voyage Pro Club, I help travel professionals sell Europe with structure, confidence, and storytelling — turning expertise and clarity into their strongest business advantage.